Action for Nature Gains Momentum: UAE Drives Integrated Solutions at IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025

The second day of the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 in Abu Dhabi marked a decisive shift from global ambition to tangible action.

Hosted under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and co-organised by MOCCAE and EAD, the event gathered over 10,000 delegates from across the world to forge a path toward integrated climate and nature solutions.

At the heart of ADNEC, the UAE Pavilion thrived as a collaborative hub where governments, scientists, and civil society explored the UAE’s cross-sector breakthroughs in climate adaptation, freshwater resilience, and marine biodiversity.

Bridging Regions, Building Resilience

Sessions such as Nature Without Borders: Bridging the UAE and Asia-Pacific for Climate and Disaster Resilience—attended by HE Mohammed Ahmed Al Bowardi—spotlighted the Building Climate Resilient Programme, a regional initiative incubated by Emirates Nature–WWF.

Meanwhile, the World Bank’s new report “Continental Drying: A Threat to Our Common Future” underscored the UAE’s role in connecting regions tackling similar environmental pressures.

Conservation in Extreme Environments: Lessons from Abu Dhabi’s Coasts

One of the day’s most engaging sessions, Thriving Against the Odds: Marine Megafauna Conservation in Extreme Environments, showcased EAD’s pioneering work in protecting dugongs, sea turtles, and sea snakes—species uniquely adapted to Abu Dhabi’s harsh coastal ecosystems.

The dialogue extended to seagrass restoration, highlighting how marine restoration underpins food security and carbon sequestration.

Designing Resilient Cities: Nature at the Core of Urban Futures

Evening sessions like Designing Resilient Cities and Framing the Global Freshwater Challenge highlighted how the UAE integrates data-driven conservation, urban design, and governance to create cities that thrive alongside nature.

The discussions reaffirmed Abu Dhabi’s holistic sustainability model—where innovation, people, and ecology evolve together.

Business, Youth, and Indigenous Wisdom at the Forefront

The IUCN Business Summit, inaugurated at ADNEC, convened global CEOs to embed nature in corporate decision-making and invest in nature-positive economies.

Simultaneously, the World Summit of Indigenous Peoples and Nature wrapped up, honouring traditional knowledge as a cornerstone of modern conservation.

In the youth pavilion, Sheikha Osha Bint Mohamed Al Nahyan, young inventor and International Greenwich Olympiad winner, joined peers in The Invisible Thread session, advocating intergenerational mentorship in climate leadership.

The SDG Nexus Panel: Governance for the 2030 Vision

A major highlight was the UAE-led Nature, Climate and People Nexus Panel, chaired by the UAE Global SDG Council and co-sponsored by the SDG Secretariat and EAD.

The panel demonstrated how integrating freshwater, marine, terrestrial, and climate priorities is vital for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

“Integrated governance turns commitments into measurable outcomes,” said HE Dr Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment. “The UAE’s model links climate and nature action with food, water, health, and jobs—advancing progress for both people and planet.”

Leadership Voices: Science, Inclusion, and Partnership

H.E. Razan Al Mubarak, President of IUCN, emphasized how the Business Summit’s financial pledges and the Indigenous Summit’s cultural insights together define a “balanced path to the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.”

Meanwhile, Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary-General of EAD and IUCN Councillor for West Asia, reflected: “Day Two affirmed Abu Dhabi’s role as a platform where solutions are co-created—grounded in science, informed by culture, and scaled through partnerships.”

Global Partnerships and Looking Ahead

The day concluded with a reception at the British Embassy in the UAE, celebrating joint conservation efforts between EAD and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL)—a testament to international collaboration.

As the Congress enters its third day, focus turns toward ocean resilience, green finance, and youth-led innovation, with Abu Dhabi firmly positioned as a global hub for conservation diplomacy and integrated climate action.