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IUCN advances nature, ocean, climate agenda at UNGA, NYC Climate Week – EnviroNews
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Through a series of engagements at the 81st United Nations General Assembly and Climate Week NYC, IUCN worked to advance international cooperation on nature, climate, oceans and sustainable finance; while strengthening partnerships ahead of major biodiversity and conservation milestones in 2026 and 2027.
The engagements brought together governments, business, philanthropy and conservation leaders around a common challenge: how to translate global commitments for nature and climate into investment, policy and action.
“This week has reinforced a simple message: ambition for nature, climate and the ocean must now translate into concrete actions. That means bringing science, policy, finance and local leadership together and ensuring that the people and communities stewarding nature are at the heart of the solutions,” said IUCN President, Razan Al Mubarak.
“From strengthening ocean partnerships and advancing nature-related finance, to working with governments ahead of CBD COP17 and the 2027 IUCN World Protected and Conserved Areas Congress, our focus is on building the partnerships and practical pathways that can turn global commitments into lasting impact.”
An ocean milestone during the week was the announcement of a new collaboration between IUCN and Mission Blue, founded by IUCN Patron of Nature Dr Sylvia Earle. The One Ocean Partnership will connect Mission Blue’s global network of Hope Spots with IUCN’s scientific expertise, regional networks and regenerative seascape approach, including the Great Blue Wall initiative.
The partnership will support locally-led ocean conservation, strengthen coastal and island leadership and advance regenerative blue economy models that connect healthy marine ecosystems with sustainable livelihoods, local value creation and investment.
IUCN’s engagements also looked ahead to two major conservation moments.
In a bilateral meeting with uan Carlos Navarro, Minister of the Environment of Panama, the IUCN President discussed Panama’s role as host of the 2027 IUCN World Protected and Conserved Areas Congress. The Congress will take place in Panama City from September 4 to 10, 2027, and will bring together governments, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, business and civil society to advance effective and equitable area-based conservation.
IUCN also welcomed a new initiative launched in New York by Panama. On the margins of UNGA81 High-Level Week, the first Member States signed a Statement of Participation in the For Nature Coalition of States, coordinated by the Permanent Mission of Panama to the UN and Panama’s Ministry of Environment.
IUCN congratulated Panama on the initiative, which offers a State-led space for countries from different regions to exchange experiences and reflect collectively on humanity’s relationship with nature, including the proposed UN Universal Declaration of the Rights of Nature.
Engagement with Hambardzum Matevosyan, Minister of Environment of Armenia, meanwhile, connected IUCN’s UNGA programme directly to CBD COP17, which Armenia will host next month. Armenia became an IUCN State Member in 2025, with its Ministry of Environment serving as the national liaison. At the time, the Minister highlighted IUCN membership as supporting Armenia’s preparations to host COP17 and its wider biodiversity ambitions.
The meetings with Panama and Armenia therefore provided an opportunity to look beyond UNGA81 towards the next stages of global biodiversity action — from COP17 in Armenia to the 2027 IUCN World Protected and Conserved Areas Congress in Panama.
Nature-related finance was another theme. The IUCN President joined a private CEO roundtable on water as an economic priority and delivered opening remarks at the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures’ annual status report launch, highlighting the increasing importance of nature-related considerations in business and financial decision-making.
Ocean diplomacy featured prominently throughout the week, including participation in the Ocean Panel Leaders’ Meeting, focused on ocean-climate leadership on the road to COP31, as well as engagements at the UN on ocean observation and ocean literacy.
The programme also included discussions with philanthropic and conservation leaders on plastic pollution, sustainable tourism and conservation finance, alongside a ministerial roundtable on strengthening international cooperation against environmental crime.
The week culminated in the UN High-Level Meeting on Sea-Level Rise, bringing global attention to the escalating risks faced by low-lying coastal areas and small island developing states.
Taken together, the engagements underscored IUCN’s role as a bridge between science, governments, finance, business and locally-led conservation, while positioning the Union for the major biodiversity, climate and conservation milestones ahead – from CBD COP17 in Armenia and COP31 to the 2027 IUCN World Protected and Conserved Areas Congress.
