The world’s life-supporting systems are under unprecedented strain, as climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and health crises continue to intensify, testing the planet’s resilience and adaptive capacity. As we approach the 2030 deadline of the Paris Agreement on climate change, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the shortcomings of decades of conservation efforts are becoming starkly evident, making transformative action in environmental protection and restoration more urgent now than ever before.

It is against this critical moment, that the 2025 IUCN World Conservation Congress, the largest global conservation gathering, convened from 9-15 October 2025 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Congress hosted experts, governments, civil society, Indigenous Peoples, youth, and others in a diverse range of sessions designed to foster innovation, inclusivity and catalyze partnerships and collaborations.

The 2025 Congress convened under the theme, “Powering transformative conservation,” aimed at shaping dialogue, decisions, and initiatives that deliver transformative outcomes for nature and people. The Congress addressed five interlinked themes: scaling up resilient conservation action; reducing climate overshoot risks; delivering on equity; transitioning to nature-positive economies and societies; and disruptive innovation and leadership for conservation.

IUCN Congresses are held every four years and consist of a four-day Forum open to all participants, and a Members’ Assembly, which is the central governing and decision-making body of the IUCN.

The Forum took place from 9-12 October as a multi-stream interactive meeting featuring high-level dialogues, thematic sessions, speaker pitches, online podcasts, and training and capacity building sessions will take place. The Forum also showcased an art exhibition to inspire reflections on connections with nature. A series of summits convened in parallel including: the first World Summit of Indigenous Peoples and Nature, a Business Summit, a Youth Summit, a Philanthropy Summit and the 3rd Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Oceans Summit.

The Members’ Assembly convened its first sitting on 9 October 2025, the first day of the Forum, with subsequent sittings from 13-15 October. The Assembly deliberated on motions, formal proposals submitted by member organizations, which when adopted become resolutions and recommendations guiding IUCN’s policies and programmes. The Assembly also approved among others, the IUCN Programme and Financial Plan for 2026–2029 and the new 20-year Strategic Vision. It also elected the IUCN President, Council, Commission Chairs, and officers for the next term.

The Assembly programme also included an awards ceremony to confer the Harold Jefferson Coolidge Memorial Medal for exceptional contributions to the conservation of nature and natural resources, and the John C. Phillips Memorial Medal for outstanding service in international conservation. Honorary Membership was also conferred to individuals who have made exceptional contributions to IUCN and global conservation.

The 2025 IUCN World Conservation Congress was held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, UAE, from 9 to 15 October 2025.

The Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) writers for this meeting were Wanja Nyingi, Ph.D.; Daniel Bertram; Marc Calabretta; Christina Fernandez; Tallash Kantai; and Pauliina Upla. The Digital Editors were Anastasia Rodopoulou and Ángeles Estrada. French translation by Mongi Gadhoum and Feryel Gadhoum. Spanish translation by Alexandra Lefevre and Socorro Estrada. Video production by Rosalie Boyle and Andrés Carvajal. The Editor was Leila Mead.

 Funding for ENB coverage of the 2025 IUCN World Conservation Congress was provided by IUCN.