The University of Oxford at COP17: Advancing Global Action for Nature

The world is at a critical moment for biodiversity. The seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17) brings governments, scientists, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, businesses and civil society together to address the global biodiversity crisis and accelerate action to protect and restore nature.

Hosted in Armenia under the theme Taking Action for Nature, COP17 marks the first global review of collective progress towards the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Adopted in 2022, this landmark agreement sets out a global plan to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. The review will provide an important opportunity to assess progress, identify gaps and strengthen the policies, financing and partnerships needed to turn global commitments into meaningful action.

The decisions made at COP17 will have implications for biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration, sustainable development and the relationship between nature, climate and society. The conference will also provide an important platform for considering how scientific evidence, Indigenous and local knowledge, and collaboration across governments, businesses and communities can support more effective implementation.

The University of Oxford at COP17

The University of Oxford will be represented at COP17 by researchers and students working across biodiversity conservation, ecosystem science, environmental governance and nature recovery. Members of the delegation bring expertise spanning biodiversity policy and finance, monitoring and implementation, Indigenous Peoples’ and local communities’ rights, sustainable wildlife management, business and biodiversity, and the links between biodiversity and climate change.

Oxford’s participation provides an opportunity to connect research with international policy, exchange knowledge with partners and contribute to discussions about how global biodiversity commitments can be translated into action. Members of the delegation will take part in policy discussions, research and science–policy networking, and events bringing together academic, governmental, business and civil society communities.

Explore the Oxford delegation’s activities below, including events involving Oxford researchers, the people attending COP17 and the themes they are working on.