The IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 will gather global leaders in Abu Dhabi to push for urgent environmental action
From October 9 to 15, 2025, over 10,000 participants—including conservation experts, government officials, researchers, and corporate leaders—will gather in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, for the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025. Held once every four years, this event is the largest and most inclusive global meeting focused on nature conservation, climate action, and sustainable development.
The IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 comes at a critical time. With just five years left to meet key global targets—like the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals—there is growing pressure to accelerate action. The Congress will offer a platform to launch new environmental strategies, build international partnerships, and shape policies that directly affect global ecosystems and human well-being.
Organized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Congress aims to coordinate efforts to combat biodiversity loss, mitigate climate change, and build a more sustainable economy. The 2025 edition will focus on five key themes aimed at driving large-scale, lasting environmental change.
The IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 is not just about high-level talks. It connects science, policy, and community action to make a measurable difference. Attendees will include national delegates, NGOs, researchers, business executives, Indigenous leaders, and youth organizations.
IUCN is committed to making the event itself a model for sustainability. The organization is applying strict standards for energy use, waste reduction, procurement, and low-carbon travel. This builds on past successes: the 2016 Congress in Hawaii and the 2021 edition in Marseille earned ISO 20121 certification for sustainable event management.
At a time when climate disasters and ecosystem loss are becoming more frequent and severe, the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 stands out as a major opportunity to influence global environmental policy. Participants will present solutions to ongoing crises while setting priorities for the next decade of conservation and climate action.
The Congress will explore five critical areas for action:
1. Scaling Up Resilient Conservation Action
Conservation efforts must grow in size and impact. This theme aims to protect more land and sea areas while making ecosystems more resilient to climate change and human pressures.
2. Reducing Climate Overshoot Risks
Scientists warn that we could briefly exceed safe global warming limits. This “overshoot” could trigger extreme weather, droughts, and sea-level rise. The Congress will explore strategies to prevent this outcome and prepare for its possible effects.
3. Delivering on Equity
Environmental action must be fair. This means recognizing the rights and knowledge of Indigenous peoples and ensuring that conservation policies do not harm vulnerable communities. Delegates will discuss how to make sustainability more inclusive.
4. Transitioning to Nature-Positive Economies and Societies
This theme focuses on transforming industries—like agriculture, construction, and finance—to support nature rather than deplete it. A “nature-positive” economy restores and protects ecosystems while supporting human development.
5. Disruptive Innovation and Leadership for Conservation
The Congress will highlight cutting-edge technology and bold leadership. Topics may include artificial intelligence for wildlife tracking, carbon-negative materials, and community-led restoration projects. The goal is to accelerate solutions that are effective and scalable.
See also: All the Major Climate Events of 2025
The IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 is more than a policy meeting. The outcomes could influence decisions about what kinds of food are produced, how cities are built, and how much funding goes into environmental protection. They could also impact how businesses report environmental impacts and how governments respond to natural disasters.
The world currently faces severe environmental threats. According to the UN, about 1 million species are at risk of extinction. Biodiversity loss is weakening the ecosystems that supply clean water, stable weather, and food. Meanwhile, climate change is increasing the frequency of wildfires, floods, and heat waves.
The IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 will address these challenges head-on. The event is expected to result in new policies, global agreements, and funding commitments that shape how humanity responds to the planet’s biggest problems.
