Highlights and images for 24 July 2025

“COP is our moment to act. Wetlands can’t wait.” The message from the opening video was echoed throughout the first day of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP15), one that featured calls for action by the President of Zimbabwe, and heads of UN agencies. Despite the continued loss and degradation of wetlands cited by multiple speakers, a sense of optimism was present, perhaps buoyed by the constant sounds of Zimbabwean music that infused the venue.

Want to dig deeper into today's talks? Read the full Earth Negotiations Bulletin daily report.

The first day of COP15 opened in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, with calls for collaborative, science-based, and cross-sectoral action to protect and restore wetlands. Yan Zheng, Deputy Director of China’s National Forestry and Grassland Administration, spoke on behalf of the COP14 Presidency, highlighting China’s progress on wetlands. Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), speaking on behalf of UN Secretary-General António Guterres and UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen, emphasized the importance of wetlands for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  

Heads of international organizations reinforced these messages. Astrid Schomaker (Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)), Ivonne Higuero (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)), and Amy Fraenkel (Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)) highlighted collaboration on wetlands as key to advancing biodiversity goals. UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Director-General Audrey Azoulay underscored the symbolic importance of Victoria Falls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Grethel Aguilar, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), called for scaling up nature-based solutions and private sector partnerships, while Wetlands International's CEO Coenraad Krijger identified priorities for COP15, including an ambitious 5th Strategic Plan. 

Musonda Mumba, Secretary General of the Convention on Wetlands, celebrated the Convention’s growth and accomplishments, but warned that wetlands remain undervalued and underfunded. 

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa called for increased financing and stronger integration of wetlands into biodiversity strategies. High-level speakers from Eswatini and Malawi also shared national progress. 

The high-level ministerial segment focused on three themes: strengthening policy and legal frameworks by mainstreaming wetlands conservation; improving integrated planning and management through promoting collaborative approaches; and identifying and mobilizing resources to fund sustainable wetland interventions, programmes, and activities. 

The day included the ceremonial handover of the Ramsar flag and remarks from Ministers Richard Moyo and Evelyn Ndlovu (Zimbabwe), who urged delegates to deliver concrete outcomes. The Wetland City Accreditation ceremony recognized 31 cities from 16 countries for their commitment to sustainable urban wetland management.  

In the corridors, delegates appreciated the high-level attention garnered by the meeting, the inclusion of cultural references, and the music that infused the venue and conversations. While some were frustrated by technology glitches and an over-packed schedule, the spirits of those present were lifted by the rising mist of the “smoke that thunders”. All were still united, reinforcing the theme of COP15: wetlands are central to our common future.