MITECO participates in IUCN World Conservation Congress

The congress brings together world leaders and government representatives, the world of science and academia, indigenous peoples' groups, non-governmental organisations and business to address urgent environmental challenges.

MITECO, as a member of IUCN, participates in the Forum and the Assembly of Members. The Vice-President and Minister for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, Teresa Ribera, will speak on Tuesday 7 September at the high-level panel 'Mobilising nature and society to address the climate emergency: the way forwards', where she will highlight the role of nature and the solutions offered to tackle the environmental challenges we face, including climate change.

Also, the Secretary of State for the Environment, Hugo Morán Fernández, will participate in a virtual high-level panel on Sunday 5 September on the fight against deforestation. He will also attend the congress in person on Tuesday 7 September, where he will hold various meetings and gatherings with institutions and organisations from different countries.

The Directorate General for Biodiversity, Forests and Desertification and the Biodiversity Foundation will also participate in different meetings and events during the Congress. The director of Fundación Biodiversidad, Elena Pita, will speak at various sessions of the Forum and events focusing on issues such as mobilising funds for conservation. Fundación Biodiversidad will also participate in a round table discussion on plastic pollution in the Mediterranean.

Voting on more than 30 motions

The Spanish delegation of MITECO will participate in the Assembly of Members and will vote on different motions that will shape IUCN's work in the coming years. The motions address issues such as the development and implementation of a transformative and effective post-2020 global biodiversity framework; advancing the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in the ocean beyond national jurisdiction; and tackling marine noise pollution.

Voting on these motions, two of which are co-sponsored by the Ministry, will take place from 8 to 10 September. The first of these, 'Climate change and biodiversity crisis', seeks to promote measures that recognise that the climate crisis and biodiversity loss are interlinked and therefore synergies must be strengthened, research increased and nature-based solutions and international commitments implemented.

The second motion, 'One Health', seeks to ensure human, animal and environmental health and to prevent pandemics. It links human, animal and botanical health with ecosystem conservation, key elements in ensuring better human health, preventing future pandemics and combating the biodiversity crisis in the context of climate change. In a first online vote, elections for the IUCN Council will take place, where new members will be elected. MITECO has proposed Sonia Castañeda, Deputy Director of Green Economy and Employment and International Relations of Fundación Biodiversidad as a candidate for the board.

Experts from more than 160 countries

IUCN is a membership union composed of governmental organisations and civil society. It draws on the experience, resources and reach of its more than 1,400 organisations and the input of more than 18,000 experts from 160 countries.

The IUCN World Conservation Congress is a forum that meets every four years to define priorities and drive action for conservation and sustainable development. The meeting is held under the theme 'Nature, our future' to highlight the importance of a healthy nature as a precondition for achieving the vision of a just and sustainable planet.

The seven themes to be covered by the Congress are: Managing landscapes for nature and people; Conserving freshwater to sustain life; Restoring ocean health; Accelerating climate change mitigation and adaptation; Upholding rights, ensuring effective and equitable governance; Leveraging economic and financial systems for sustainability; Advancing knowledge, learning, innovation and technology.

The Congress is structured in the following areas: The Forum, 4-7 September, a space for debate through high-level dialogues, training sessions and social events; Exhibition, 4-9 September, focusing on stands and events to showcase specific initiatives by business, civil society and other organisations; Members' Assembly, 4, 8, 9 and 10 September, IUCN's decision-making body, where the membership will debate and vote on motions and proposals; Generations of Nature Area, 4-11 September, a space to highlight the actions and commitments of citizens and non-governmental actors.

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