Statement by Ms. Julieta Tavakalyan, Third Secretary of the Permanent Mission of Armenia to the United Nations, at the UNGA79 High-level Meeting on Harmony with Nature and Living Well

22 April, 2025

Madam President,
Excellences,

I would like to thank the President of the General Assembly for convening this high-level meeting on Harmony with Nature and Living Well.

Today, as the world faces unprecedented challenges, ranging from climate change to natural disasters, scientific evidence shows that many of these disasters are driven by human activity. Unsustainable economic practices, excessive consumption, harmful agrifood systems, and greenhouse gas emissions are among the main contributors to the triple planetary crisis, which disproportionately affects the most vulnerable, including Small Island Developing States, Least Developed Countries, and Landlocked Developing Countries.

In this context, we recognize that the international community, with the United Nations at its heart, has undertaken a number of key initiatives aimed at reversing the climate and environmental crisis and ensuring that humanity can live in harmony with nature.

Foremost among these efforts is the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, which include specific targets on harmony with nature. In this critical Decade of Action, many commitments remain unfulfilled, and urgent efforts are needed to keep progress on track.

The Pact for the Future further reinforces these global commitments and underscores the importance of enhancing global action toward SDG implementation, particularly in the context of harmony with nature.

Another milestone in our collective efforts is the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), which complements the SDGs and provides a roadmap for achieving goals such as “30 by 30” and “Living in Harmony with Nature by 2050.”

Together, these efforts represent the very essence of multilateralism, where every nation and stakeholder is committed to advancing the shared objective of Living Well in all dimensions - economic, social, and environmental - while preserving nature.

Enhanced ambition for the effective implementation of all these commitments, transparency, reporting and provision of sufficient means of implementation to developing countries are crucial for our global efforts to achieve the SDGs, effectively implement the KMGBF objectives and targets and leave a green, healthy and sustainable environment to future generations.

Armenia places particular importance on a multi-stakeholder approach to addressing global challenges and advancing implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Rio Conventions. We particularly value the meaningful participation of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, civil society, women’s organizations, youth, and academia.

As you may know, Armenia will host the Biodiversity COP17 in 2026. A central focus of the COP will be the global review of collective progress under the GBF, assessing the current efforts of international community and different stakeholders in biodiversity preservation and sustainable use of natural resources, while identifying necessary actions to course-correct where needed.

Achieving this critical milestone will require renewed commitment and collaboration among all parties and stakeholders. We look forward to warmly welcoming all delegations to Armenia and working together to realize our shared vision of Living in Harmony with Nature by 2050.

Thank you.

MFA RA
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