Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and Environment and Agriculture Minister Davit Songulashvili attended the COP17 Leaders’ Summit in Yerevan on 16 October, where participating leaders adopted the Yerevan Declaration on biodiversity protection. Georgia used the summit to outline its conservation targets and pursue bilateral contacts with Iran and UNESCO.

Kobakhidze emphasised that biodiversity protection must produce tangible results rather than remain a set of international commitments. “As we look towards 2030, the question before us is no longer what we have agreed, but what we are delivering,” he stated in his. The prime minister presented Georgia as part of the Caucasus biodiversity hotspot, highlighting its diverse ecosystems and species. He connected conservation with sustainable development and stressed the value of cooperation with international partners to mobilise resources, share expertise and protect natural heritage. Kobakhidze also reaffirmed Georgia’s intention to translate global biodiversity commitments into concrete results by 2030. Songulashvili the government’s targets for protected areas and forest restoration. Protected areas currently cover approximately 22% of Georgia’s territory, with the government aiming to increase the share to 30% by 2030. Kobakhidze that forest restoration and planting activities had covered more than 7,000 hectares over the previous decade, with a target of at least 20,000 hectares by 2030.

On the sidelines of the summit, Kobakhidze met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to discuss bilateral relations, tourism cooperation and regional security, including developments in the Middle East. Kobakhidze Georgia’s support for diplomatic efforts to de-escalate conflicts and achieve peaceful resolutions. Kobakhidze also met UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany on 16 October to between Georgia and the organisation, particularly the protection and preservation of tangible and intangible cultural heritage. The prime minister stressed that Georgia’s cultural heritage forms an integral part of its national identity and highlighted the government’s commitment to safeguarding centuries-old traditions through its partnership with UNESCO. At the conclusion of the meeting, Kobakhidze invited El-Enany to make an official visit to Georgia.