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Her Excellency Razan Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change High Level Champion for COP28, shared her thoughts on how cities can contribute to solving the climate challenge during an appearance at the Sustainable Cities in Action Forum 2024. Held on 5 March at Expo City Dubai, the event brought under one roof urban planners, architects, city…

Her Excellency Razan Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28, has given a keynote address on 3 March 2024 at the Culture Summit Abu Dhabi. In her speech, Ms. Al Mubarak, who is also President of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, reflected on the theme of the annual global cultural…

In a recent piece written on the occasion of the Cultural Summit 2024, held in Abu Dhabi, H. E. Razan Al Mubarak reflected on the role of cultural institutions in shifting public perceptions on climate and nature and boosting actions to address climate change and biodiversity loss. Ms. Al Mubarak, who is President of the…

H.E. Razan Al Mubarak is featured in Time Magazine's “5 Ideas for Rebuilding Trust in 2024”, where she called to rebuild trust in nature’s ability to help us achieve our climate goals. Ms. Al Mubarak, President of the International Union for Conservation of  Nature, mentioned the importance of understanding bio­diversity loss and climate change as…

In an op-ed for Context News, Razan Al Mubarak discusses the importance of including women and girls in climate talks and efforts, highlighting both their impact on daily practices and the lack of representation at the decision making nexus: “Women, as the main users and producers of household energy, are more likely to be energy-efficient…

H.E. Razan Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28, advocated for nature and the inclusion of women and indigenous communities at the UN Climate Change Conference that took place in Dubai, UAE from 30 November to 13 December 2023. During the COP28 World Climate Action Summit Presidency event, Ms. Al Mubarak announced initial…

In an op-ed for the World Economic Forum, Razan Al Mubarak discussed the reality of the current climate crisis and its connection to the food crisis, as well as four strategies to address this challenge.  Ms. Al Mubarak described the unequal conditions that the current food system has created: “This broken food system is creating…

Razan Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28, and Mahmoud Mohieldin - UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP27 in Egypt - recently co-wrote an op-ed for SustainableViews discussing the collective shift necessary to achieve greater climate stability, security, and equality. The High-Level Champions address the Paris Agreement’s 1.5˚C target, acknowledging how far…

During the Global Conference on Gender and Environmental Data held on November 28 in Abu Dhabi, Razan Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28, highlighted the need for gender equality and wider support for female leadership in climate action. The two day-conference, which preceded COP28 in the UAE, was organized by the Offices…

Today, on the 75th Anniversary of the founding of IUCN, Razan Al Mubarak commemorated the organization and led its 110th Council Meeting in the Chateau of Fontainebleau, France, where the International Union for the Conservation of Nature was formally established. In a heartfelt retrospective of the organization’s journey,  Ms. Al Mubarak highlighted its growth throughout…

In a recent interview for Newsweek, Razan Al Mubarak discussed the centrality of nature-based solutions in tackling the climate crisis, and her ambitions ahead of COP28 - now less than a month away. As President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Ms. Al Mubarak focused on the importance of nature as one…

In a recent interview for Eco-Business, Razan Al Mubarak discussed the work of COP28 to guarantee diverse and inclusive climate negotiations, the power of nature-based solutions to combat climate change, and other priorities ahead of COP28 in the UAE later this year. As UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28, one of Ms. Al Mubarak’s…

At the recent IUCN Leaders Forum in Geneva, Switzerland, IUCN President Razan Al Mubarak announced an ambitious global marine conservation and climate action initiative – The Ocean Breakthroughs. Developed by the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action and with the support of the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions, The Ocean Breakthroughs presents specific targets spanning…

Razan Al Mubarak shared a message to mark her second anniversary as President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). In her speech, she highlighted the importance of inclusion to solve the current climate crisis. “One of the cornerstones of our work for the last two years has been a focus on inclusion.…

At MENA Climate Week in Riyadh, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28 Razan Al Mubarak announced support to advance women’s representation and gender parity at the upcoming climate summit in the United Arab Emirates. During a “Gender and Climate Change in the Middle East” event at MENA Climate Week, Ms. Al Mubarak touched on…

Razan Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28, announced plans to ensure indigenous communities have their voices heard at the crucial climate talks, underlining the importance of inclusion for the Conference which will take place later this year in the United Arab Emirates. Ms. Al Mubarak, who is also President of the International…

During Climate Week NYC, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28 Razan Al Mubarak advocated for Nature-based Solutions and other urgent actions that tackle climate change and nature loss simultaneously, and she reaffirmed the need to include indigenous peoples and women in climate talks. Despite many countries setting goals to limit greenhouse emissions, the world…

Razan Al Mubarak has written an op-ed for ImpactAlpha, reflecting on a term that is becoming increasingly prominent in the discourse on climate change: “nature-based solutions.” These are actions meant to protect, sustainably use, manage, and restore natural or modified ecosystems.  As UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28, Ms. Al Mubarak said these solutions…

At Africa Climate Week, Mrs. Razan Al Mubarak took part in climate talks about the preservation of Africa’s diverse ecosystems — ranging from marine and coastal areas to vast terrestrial landscapes — as the world transitions to renewable energy solutions. Mrs. Al Mubarak said: “Africa's incredible biodiversity is not just a testament to the continent's…

Today, on the occasion of Emirati Women’s Day, Razan al Mubarak published an op-ed in The National addressing the significance of women’s contributions to Emirati society. Women are not merely central to the fields of conservation and climate change; they are integral pillars across all sectors of society, whether as scientists, creatives, leaders, or mothers.…

At the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) Summit in Belem, Brazil, Razan Al Mubarak was part of the COP28 Presidency delegation that engaged heads of state, ministers, governors, and leaders of Indigenous communities in climate talks leading up to COP28.  The ACTO Summit was expected to yield an ambitious policy on protecting the world’s largest…

In advance of a watershed meeting of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) conference in London next week, Razan Al Mubarak wrote an op-ed for Context calling on the maritime shipping industry to significantly cut carbon emissions over the next five years while also prioritizing a just transition to green fuels that will benefit developing countries. …

During London Climate Action Week, Razan Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28, advocated for a nature-positive economy and called on businesses to step up climate mitigation and adaptation efforts and to include nature-based solutions in their climate transition plans. At the flagship event “The Race is On: Net Zero & Nature Positive…

Ahead of London Climate Action Week, Razan Al Mubarak penned an op-ed for Economist Impact on the need to put nature-positive solutions higher on the global agenda. As UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28, Ms. Al Mubarak said: “In the race to tackle climate change and adapt and build resilience to its impacts, there…

Razan Al Mubarak urged decisive climate action by the private sector, local governments and civil society at the Bonn Climate Change Conference this week. Held from 5-15 June, the event is part of the formal United Nations negotiations on climate and marks an important stop on the road to the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28)…

Razan Al Mubarak, UN High-Level Climate Champion for COP28, highlighted the importance of collective climate action among non-state actors including businesses, cities, financial institutions, civil society, and academia. The event, titled “Road to COP28: Driving Collective Action in the UAE,” was hosted by the High-Level Champions and the Dubai Chamber, with support from the COP28…

Razan Al Mubarak, President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), convened the 109th IUCN Council Meeting held in Gland, Switzerland on 23 May 2023. Ms. Al Mubarak, who has been at the forefront of important environmental initiatives, is the second woman and the first representative from the Arab world to lead the…

Razan Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28, called on the youth to “step forward and make a difference” during her commencement address at NYU Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. Read a summarized version of Ms. Al Mubarak’s speech below or watch the full speech on YouTube. “Your Highness, ladies and…

Hello friends and hello colleagues, Today marks the International Day for Biological Diversity, reminding us of the urgent need to take action to stop the loss of biodiversity, which is one of the most significant crises that we face. The planet is losing over 10,000 species each year, which is 1,000 times faster than the historical baseline. However, when we talk about the…

Razan Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28, and President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), urged for greater inclusion of Indigenous peoples as “full partners in decision-making that affect their lands, health, resources and way of life” at the 22nd Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous…

Dear friends, dear colleagues. Today is International Mother Earth Day. “Mother Earth.” The name gives me pause. As climate change and biodiversity loss threaten the planet that we call our home, who will come to her protection? I am personally inspired by the many indigenous communities around the world who are finely attuned to their…

To mark International Mother Earth Day 2023, Razan Al Mubarak penned an op-ed for Ms. Magazine in which she acknowledged an important ethos of Indigenous Peoples, one that values a symbiotic relationship between all living things and the planet we share. Ms. Al Mubarak said: “As we battle the twin threats of climate change and…

This last month, Muslims, Christians, and Jews the world over have celebrated Ramadan, Easter, and Passover simultaneously – something that only happens about once every thirty years. In an op-ed for Arabian Business, Ms. Al Mubarak said: “This period of collective spiritual introspection is a powerful reminder of a central tenet of all religions: compassion…

Dear friends, dear colleagues, Eid Mubarak! As we bid Ramadan farewell and begin to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, I wanted to share a short reflection with you about what made this Ramadan special to me. This past holiday season, Muslims, Christians and Jews observed Ramadan, Easter and Passover simultaneously, something that only happens about once every…

Dear friends,  Last week, I had the privilege of traveling to Japan to meet with members of the Japan National Committee of IUCN, where we discussed upcoming priorities and opportunities for further Union engagement.  What left an impression during these discussions was the famed hospitality of our hosts and the idyllic location of our meeting:…

In an interview with Quartz Africa, Razan Al Mubarak spoke about a range of issues related to the devastating impact of climate change on women. Ms. Al Mubarak said: “Women are less likely to survive climate-related disasters due to existing gender inequalities, which can create disparities in information and mobility. Further, women have much more…

To mark International Women’s Day 2023, IUCN’s first female president from the Arab world Razan Al Mubarak penned an op-ed for POLITICO calling for women’s voices to be heard, included, and celebrated. In the op-ed, Ms. Al Mubarak highlights the diverse range of experiences that women around the world face as they deal with the…

Dear friends and dear colleagues, I wanted to take this opportunity — on International Women’s Day — to say a few words about the importance of representation. Today – and every day – the best way to celebrate women is not only to include and elevate their voices, but to nurture them as leaders. We…

“This is the decade in which we must reverse biodiversity loss, slash emissions, address resilience, advance equity, and we must do this all simultaneously,” asserted Razan Al Mubarak, speaking at the sixth-annual One Forest Summit today. Protection of tropical rainforests took center stage at the two-day conference, attended by French President Emmanuel Macron, Gabon President…

Women and girls face the greatest impacts of climate change. However, they should not be seen as victims but instead as agents of change and decision makers, according to Razan Al Mubarak, speaking at this year’s World Government Summit in Dubai. Ms. Al Mubarak joined Egypt’s Minister of Environment Yasmin Fouad and Maldives Minister of State…

On January 18-20, 2023, IUCN President Razan Al Mubarak hosted nearly 100 IUCN Council members, staff, and expert volunteer conservationists from around the world for the 108th IUCN Council Meeting in Abu Dhabi. The meeting took place just one month after the historic Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, where nations pledged to halt and reverse biodiversity…

Today, the United Arab Emirates announced that Razan Al Mubarak, President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), will join the leadership team for United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s (UNFCCC) 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28), to be held in Dubai in November, 2023, as the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion.…

On the eve of the UN Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP15) in Montreal, Canada, Razan Al Mubarak penned an op-ed for The National laying out her vision for how the world can halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.  In the op-ed, Ms. Al Mubarak called on negotiators to use IUCN resources and tools to measure…

At the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP27, in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, IUCN President Razan Al Mubarak joined world leaders in launching a new global initiative that will drive the implementation of proven solutions that effectively harness nature to address climate adaptation and mitigation.  On Biodiversity Day at COP27 (16 November), Ms.…

Speaking at the 5th Paris Peace Forum, Razan Al Mubarak highlighted the environmental paradox that the world now faces as more countries fight climate change by shifting toward green technologies, which are reliant on critical minerals. Ms. Al Mubarak spoke during the panel session, “Acting together for a responsible critical minerals sector,” which included the…

In the first-ever edition of the IUCN Leaders Forum, Razan Al Mubarak delivered the opening remarks and kicked off a three day event discussing IUCN's vision for a nature-positive, global economy and society, and turning this vision into reality.  The Leaders Forum gathered some of the most powerful voices in the world of climate change…

During Climate Week and the UN General Assembly in September, Razan Al Mubarak championed initiatives to address climate change and biodiversity loss at a series of seminal events in New York City.  Ms. Al Mubarak started her week off in New York at a panel discussion on conserving, restoring, and sustainably using nature, aimed at…

Just over one year ago, Razan Al Mubarak was elected IUCN’s new president. Her first year in office marks an important milestone and a great opportunity to update you on the progress that IUCN, under her leadership, has made in implementing the resolutions and decisions agreed upon during the Congress, while also laying out goals…

Biodiversity is facing significant threats, including an estimated loss of 10,000 species each year due to extinction. But there is an opportunity for a better future, and the leadership of young people is essential to that effort, according to IUCN President Razan Al Mubarak. In a speech to World Youth Development Forum in Beijing on…

IUCN President Razan Al Mubarak delivered opening remarks at the IUCN Africa Protected Areas Congress on July 18, 2022, in Kigali, Rwanda. Noting that twenty-five percent of the world’s biodiversity can be found in Africa, Ms. Al Mubarak highlighted the critical role that Africa’s protected areas can play in the fight against biodiversity loss and…

In a wide-ranging interview with Treehugger reporter Mary Jo DiLinardo, Razan Al Mubarak discussed the significance of her 2021 election as IUCN’s first female from the Arab world, how her passion for conservation began, and what she hopes to accomplish as IUCN President. “IUCN has a critical role to play at this pivotal moment in…

For Earth Day 2022, Razan Al Mubarak was interviewed by Nature Serve President and CEO Sean O’Brien on the organization’s “Conservation Conversations” podcast.  In the interview, Ms. Al Mubarak discusses a range of issues including her goals as the current president of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), what inspired her to dedicate…

Around the world, women are a key component in successful conservation initiatives in their communities. Razan Al Mubarak paid homage to female conservation heroes for International Women’s Day on March 8, 2022, in a video for Beautiful News. The Cape Town-based news platform publishes one positive story per day at 4:14 pm, in recognition of…

During the final week of the COP26 summit, CNN hosted its first-ever Call to Earth Day, a day of action dedicated to conservation, environmentalism, and sustainability. A centerpiece of the day was a discussion moderated by Connect the World anchor Becky Anderson filmed live from the Expo 2020 site in Dubai. The panel featured Razan…

On September 8, 2021 Razan Al Mubarak was elected IUCN President for a 4-year term. Watch Ms. Al Mubarak’s acceptance speech at the conclusion of IUCN World Conservation Congress 2021 or read the transcription below. Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, and my fellow IUCN members, I am truly humbled and honored to stand before you…

“Bonjour. Salaam aleikum. Buenos días. And hello. Today marks the moment that we've all been waiting for for so long. The opening of the World Conservation Congress, both in-person in beautiful Marseille, or virtually from all over the world. But in person or virtually, we've all pledged to participate, to engage, to vote. Because not…

Razan Al Mubarak was interviewed by Mongabay editor-in-chief Rhett Butler as part of the news outlet’s Conservation Players. The series explores nature and sustainability issues and trends with notable conservation leaders from around the world such as The Nature Conservancy’s Jennifer Morris, WWF Africa’s Alice Ruhweza, and Jinfeng Zhou of the China Biodiversity Conservation and…

Razan Al Mubarak articulated her vision for the Union in the recent IUCN 2021 presidential candidates’ debate which was moderated by the former Prime Minister of France, Laurent Fabius. The debate was conducted in advance of the electronic vote which will open to all IUCN members no matter their location on September 4, 2021. In…

Biodiversity loss is one of the greatest existential crises of our time. Current estimates suggest that the planet is losing more than ten thousand species to extinction per year — a thousand times faster than at any other point in history. While stopping biodiversity loss requires long-term strategies, Razan Al Mubarak says that the work…

Today is the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, which honors the rights of indigenous groups while celebrating their contributions — including their central role in preserving biodiversity throughout the world. Razan Al Mubarak recently took part in a discussion spotlighting how insights from indigenous peoples can teach policymakers and scientists about resilience and…