The IUCN World Conservation Congress is where the world comes together to set priorities and drive conservation and sustainable development action.
IUCN’s 1400+ government, civil society and Indigenous peoples’ Member organisations vote on major issues to help guide humanity’s relationship with our planet.
The Congress is also the largest marketplace for conservation and sustainable development science, practice and policy. Scientists, policy experts, business leaders and professionals from around the globe share their experience, innovation and latest research.
IUCN’s unique convening power of state and non-state actors together gives Congress a powerful mandate to set the nature conservation agenda for decades to come.
A Congress with three components
Forum
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, ranging from wildlife to oceans, protected areas to sustainable business, and climate change to human rights.
Exhibition
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.
Member’s Assembly
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.
Outcomes of the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2021
The IUCN World Conservation Congress which took place in Marseille, France and online from 3-11 September 2021 attracted over 9,200 participants in-person and virtually from around the world and 25,000 visits from the general public. The Congress garnered over 10,000 news articles across 140 countries and reached 54 million people daily on social media. Congress sessions garnered over 50,000 online views.
The Marseille Manifesto captured key messages related to the Congress proceedings, with a focus on the post-Covid recovery, the biodiversity crisis and the climate emergency. An IUCN Members-based process of review and advice finalised the statement, which was presented and welcomed by acclamation during the 8th sitting of the Members’ Assembly on 10 September 2021.