Once every four years, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) brings together leaders, experts and stakeholders for its World Conservation Congress. The event is underpinned by three constitutive elements:
- the planet's largest knowledge marketplace for conservation and sustainable development science - the Congress Forum
- a showcase floor for pavilions, booths and events - the Congress Exhibition
- a platform for IUCN's member organisations to vote on matters of import to the biosphere's protection - the Members' Assembly
The 2025 edition will be hosted by Abu Dhabi between 9 and 15 October 2025 and revolve around the theme "Powering transformative conservation". Members of the BioAgora project, joined by partners from fellow initiatives CO-OP4CBD and RESPIN, will contribute to proceedings with a joint session at the IUCN Europe, North and Central Asia (ENCA) Pavilion. Scheduled for 11 October between 14:00 and 15:30 (GST), its stated topic is "Bridging science and policy: European action for biodiversity and climate goals".
As the title suggests, science-policy interfaces will be at the centre of the session's proceedings, particularly in relation to their strengthening in support of crucial international biodiversity agreements. In this context, levers and barriers for engaging diverse groups invested in advancing biodiversity and climate action will be explored. Two primary objectives will be foundational to deliberating all these topics:
- raising awareness of European efforts and global examples that strengthen the biodiversity and climate science-policy interface, highlighting opportunities for scaling up
- facilitating inclusive dialogue among scientists, policy-makers, traditional knowledge holders and other stakeholders on advancing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the Paris Agreement
The agenda of the session will begin with presentations of European initiatives, showcasing their contribution to the integration of knowledge into policy frameworks. This will be followed by a discussion on aligning knowledge contributions with political needs, overcoming barriers to science-policy dialogue and enhancing capacities for long-term engagement, drawing on the experience from global lessons learned and best practices. The session will conclude with a Q&A session to foster exchanges among participants.
The list of expert speakers includes:
- Maja Vasilijević (Norwegian Institute for Nature Research)
- Nathalie Morata (French Foundation for Biodiversity Research)
- Giacomo Montereale Gavazzi (Knowledge Centre for Biodiversity; European Commission)
- Nirmala Séon-Massin (Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle)
- Cathy Yitong Li (IUCN Climate Crisis Commission / IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas Young Professionals Network)
- Julie Hammer-Monart (Ministry of Ecology of France)
- Elise Huffer, (University of the South Pacific / IUCN Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy)
- Mariano Castro Jimenez (UN CBD Secretariat)
- Oliver Avramoski (IUCN Eastern Europe and Central Asia Regional Office)
- Gary Tabor (Centre for Large Landscape Conservation / IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas’ Connectivity Conservation Specialist Group)
- Olivier Chassot (IUCN Asia Regional Office)
Institutionally, the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), the French Foundation for Biodiversity Research (FRB), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle (MNHN) and the IUCN European Regional Office have lent their support as organising partners. Further collaboration in this regard is provided by the IUCN Climate Crisis Commission, the Alexander von Humboldt Biological Resources Research Institute, the Finnish Environment Institute (Syke) and Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD).