IUCN World Conservation Congress
Powering transformative conservation
The IUCN World Conservation Congress is the largest gathering of nature conservation experts, leaders and decision-makers in the world. It will help shape global priorities for nature conservation and climate change for the coming decade and beyond.
A Congress with three components
The Forum is the largest knowledge marketplace for conservation and sustainable development science, practice and innovation. Through thematic sessions, the Forum addresses the economic, social, scientific and technical aspects of a broad range of nature conservation issues.
In the Exhibition, IUCN Members and Commissions, businesses, partners, and academia host pavilions, booths and events. The Exhibition is open to both Congress participants and the public, allowing exhibitors to showcase their research, innovations and work to the broadest Congress audience.
The Members' Assembly is IUCN’s highest decision-making body. During the Assembly, IUCN’s Member organisations vote on pressing conservation and sustainable development issues.
Marseille 2021 Highlights
From 3 to 11 September 2021 the IUCN Congress in Marseille, France shared knowledge and took decisions to define the path to a sustainable future.
Sustainability focus
IUCN aims to make significant strides in event sustainability by introducing a range of initiatives focused on venue, travel, and procurement practices.
IUCN is dedicated to leading by example in sustainable events management. Building on the success of previous initiatives, including the ISO 20121 certification awarded to the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2016 in Hawaii and IUCN Congress 2021 in Marseille, IUCN is working to further enhance its sustainable event management practices.
Working collaboratively with the Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDS-Movement), a pioneering international agency dedicated to driving positive socio-economic and environmental transformation, and Green Evénements, an expert in developing responsible event strategies, IUCN is working towards achieving ISO 20121 certification once again. Specific actions include:
- minimising the environmental impact of its events by reducing greenhouse gas emissions
- minimising resource demand, and
- promoting good sustainability practices to participants, suppliers, and local communities
