The judicial colloquium on environmental protection and the judiciary will convene judges from Armenia and around the world to exchange insights on the role of courts in contributing to the protection of nature and strengthening the environmental rule of law, share experiences and expertise on key principles and good practices, and collectively reflect on the developments and outcomes of the 17th Conference of the Parties (CBD COP17) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity in Yerevan, Armenia.

The discussion will provide an opportunity to take stock of recent advances in environmental legislation and the role of the judiciary in its effective interpretation, as well as in supporting implementation and enforcement. These developments include the recent adoption of Armenia’s Law on Climate 2026, amendment of Armenia’s framework for environmental impact assessment (EIA) to systematically account for biodiversity in 2023, and the upgraded ambition to double the coverage of protected areas by 2030 enshrined by the Law on Specially Protected Areas. Participants will also have an opportunity to explore avenues to improve the protection of key biodiversity areas and ecosystems.

The exchanges will also be situated within the broader normative and legal evolution of biodiversity governance, bringing together a diverse range of international speakers from across the globe against the backdrop of CBD COP17. Speakers will be invited to share experiences and expertise in judicial efforts to advance ecosystem protection, discuss emerging trends and principles in biodiversity-related adjudication, and explore potential pathways for courts to improve the environmental rule of law.