Decision COP 16/27

The Conference of the Parties,

Recalling its decision XIII/33 of 17 December 2016, in which the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity set, in line with rule 21, paragraph 1, of the rules of procedure for its meetings, the rotation of the office of the President among the five United Nations regional groups, starting from its seventeenth meeting,

Taking note with appreciation of the offers made by the Government of Armenia and the Government of Azerbaijan to host the seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention, the twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization,

1. Decides that the seventeenth meeting of Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization will be held in Yerevan, Armenia, in the last quarter of 2026;

2. Requests the Executive Secretary to consult with the Government of Armenia, with a view to negotiating a hosting arrangement in conformity with the applicable resolutions of the United Nations and in compliance with the guidelines for the preparation of host government agreements falling under General Assembly resolution 40/243 in order to conclude and sign a host country agreement at least six months before the date of the meeting of the Conference of the Parties;

3. Invites interested Parties from the Latin American and Caribbean States to notify the Executive Secretary in a timely manner of their offers to host the eighteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention, the thirteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol and the seventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol.