The key facts

  • Pezeshkian: war threatens biodiversity, forests, water resources; weapons release hazardous chemicals and heavy metals
  • Tokayev urged turning environmental commitments into practical results, warning of desertification and water scarcity
  • Japarov supported the 'Yerevan Platform on Mountain and Freshwater Ecosystems' initiative

Pezeshkian's Statement on the Consequences of War

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Friday that the American-Israeli war against Iran is causing serious damage to the country's ecosystems and called for the creation of international mechanisms to protect biodiversity. This was reported by the Armenian agency Armenpress. Speaking at the COP17 leaders' summit in Yerevan, he warned of the destructive environmental consequences of war, noting that military aggression threatens biodiversity, natural resources, and future generations. According to him, wars destroy forests, fertile lands, wetlands, and water resources, while weapons release hazardous chemicals and heavy metals into the environment. 'The destruction of the natural environment is a direct consequence of war. This problem poses a serious threat to the well-being of future generations in our region, including Iran. The environmental consequences of military aggression require urgent security measures from the international community,' the agency quoted him as saying.

Speeches by Tokayev and Japarov

President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called for turning environmental commitments into practical results, warning that desertification and water scarcity threaten sustainable development and global stability. He emphasized that environmental issues should take priority over political disagreements. 'For millions of people, water scarcity and land degradation have already become an everyday reality. The most difficult consequence is that this process crosses borders, undermining sustainable development and threatening global stability,' Tokayev said. President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov also called for addressing global challenges by strengthening international cooperation and the coordinated efforts of all states. He confirmed his support for Armenia's initiative to create the 'Yerevan Platform on Mountain and Freshwater Ecosystems' and expressed readiness to actively participate in its work.

About the COP17 Summit

Armenia holds the chairmanship of COP17, which is taking place in Yerevan from October 19 to 30 and brings together government delegations, international organizations, and civil society representatives to assess progress in biodiversity conservation and discuss further actions.