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This week, Razan Al Mubarak, President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), is leading the 111th IUCN Council Meeting in Gland, Switzerland. The meeting focuses on critical strategic initiatives that will shape the future of conservation efforts globally.
In collaboration with IUCN members, the council is discussing the IUCN’s 20-year strategic vision, which addresses the increasing challenges in biodiversity and climate change. This vision highlights the necessity of escalating conservation efforts to combat the potential overshoot of the 1.5°C target set by the Paris Agreement. Additionally, the meeting includes the review of IUCN’s draft program for 2026-2029, which will undergo several iterations with input from IUCN members, aiming to finalize and approve it at the upcoming IUCN 2025 World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi.
Razan Al Mubarak, who also serves as the Managing Director of the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi, emphasized the critical role of nature-based solutions in addressing major environmental threats. These solutions, which include reversing deforestation and restoring ecosystems, are pivotal for achieving conservation and sustainable development objectives.
The meeting also prepares for the IUCN’s participation in key global events later this year, including the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the 2024 UN Climate Change Conference (COP29), and COP16 of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.
Under MS. Al Mubarak’s leadership, the IUCN continues to advocate for holistic environmental governance, integrating biodiversity and nature conservation into broader climate action strategies. This approach was strongly supported during COP28, where significant commitments were made, including halting deforestation by 2030 and allocating substantial funds to protect forest and coastal ecosystems.
The outcomes of the 111th Council Meeting are expected to significantly influence conservation strategies and policies globally, reinforcing IUCN’s role in fostering a sustainable future.