The worst air quality in the South Caucasus is in Yerevan, stated UN Resident Coordinator in Armenia Françoise Jacob at the forum "The Future of the Banking System: Innovations and Development Prospects."
Jacob also pointed to the problem of active desertification of Armenia's lands and river pollution from agricultural, construction, and mining activities. In Armenia, according to the UN representative, only 0.6% of GDP is spent on environmental protection.
Jacob emphasized that ahead of the COP17 summit, Armenia must demonstrate its commitment to fulfilling obligations to protect biodiversity.
The 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity will be held in Yerevan in 2026.