World Conservation Congress (IUCN)

About

IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 is the foremost global assembly for nature conservation, gathering legislators, scientists, Indigenous leaders, business executives and civil-society actors under one roof. The event will be held from 9 – 15 October 2025 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Organised by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Congress serves as a pivotal platform where global policy, science, business and grassroots action converge to shape the trajectory of biodiversity protection, ecosystem restoration and nature-positive business models.

Each year this event draws thousands of participants from around the world — including government delegations, Indigenous peoples’ organisations, NGOs, corporations, researchers and youth innovators — making it the definitive meeting for forging alliances, setting conservation agenda and catalysing transformative action. 

The Congress features a dynamic mix of plenary sessions, thematic forums, resolutions and exhibits where solutions for biodiversity loss, climate-resilience, inclusive conservation and nature-positive economies are explored.

The IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 is divided into several key zones and features, including:

• Forum & Assembly – A core space for high-level decision-making, Member-Assembly votes and global policy declaration.

• Exhibition Floor – A showcase of organisations, technologies, partnerships and innovations from across the conservation and sustainability landscape.

• Thematic Session Tracks – Deep-dive dialogues on major themes such as scaling resilient conservation action, reducing climate overshoot risks, delivering equity, transitioning to nature-positive economies and disruptive innovation in conservation. 

• Changemakers & Youth Hub – An area dedicated to young leaders, innovators and grassroots actors who are driving nature-positive change and who gain visibility, mentorship and networking opportunities. 

• Networking & Collaboration Zone – Structured opportunities for creating cross-sector partnerships among business, science, government and local communities.

Whether you are an environmental scientist, an industry stakeholder committed to sustainability, an Indigenous or community leader, a policy-maker or a youth innovator looking to scale your impact — the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 offers a unique convergence of policy, practice and partnership.

By combining global agenda-setting, capacity-building, innovation-showcase and inclusive collaboration, the Congress reinforces Abu Dhabi’s and the UAE’s role as a global hub for nature-positive solutions and strengthens the momentum for a sustainable and equitable future for nature and people.