With plans for multiple activities led by members and partners, the CEC presence will be rooted within the IUCN World Conservation Congress Exhibition Space at an unmissable Nature-based Education Pavilion. This pop-up green school space will showcase innovators from around the world who are bringing nature back into education, and education back into nature.
The Nature-based Education Pavilion will serve as an event and convening space, bringing together experts from formal and non-formal education sectors advancing climate education and biodiversity education.
Design rendered by Electra
In line with the Congress theme of Disruptive Innovation and Leadership for Conservation, this pavilion will spotlight bold educational approaches and leadership that challenge traditional learning models.
It will demonstrate how reimagining education can be a powerful tool for conservation - empowering the next generation of leaders to innovate, collaborate and drive impact in a rapidly changing world.
The Nature-based Education Pavilion will host a variety of presentations, interactive sessions and engaging activities throughout the Congress. The Pavilion will be open for activity or event proposals with partners, including IUCN Members, Commission members, members of IUCN’s Task Force on Nature-based Education, #NatureForAll partners and external partners. Activities may include Thematic Days to advance climate education and biodiversity education, allowing partners to spotlight curriculum development, advocacy and capacity-building approaches.
IUCN constituents may also offer Nature-based Education and Nature-based Leadership training, sharing best practices and mini-trainings on pedagogy, school grounds design and leadership. A dedicated area for children and youth-led sessions and events will create space for dialogue, collaboration and skill-building, with a focus on “youth at school” and links to the Youth Pavilion.
The Pavilion will also feature an Environmental Game Corner with both digital and physical games, a multicultural and multigenerational Human Library for short, inspiring conversations and a Living Art Gallery showcasing student and conservation artists' work. Storytelling sessions will offer local and cultural immersion, particularly focusing on Abu Dhabi’s ecological heritage and tools like the #NatureForAll Nature Storybook Toolkit. An Environmental Book Club will engage visitors with environmental literature, while a Cultural and Inclusive Safe Space will provide a quiet, reflective area for meditation, healing practices and inclusive dialogue.
We warmly invite partners from across sectors - including conservation organisations, educational institutions, Indigenous communities, youth networks and private sector innovators to join us in bringing the Nature-based Education Pavilion to life. Your expertise, creativity and collaborative spirit are essential to shaping this bold and dynamic space. Together, we can create a vibrant platform that advances global education and conservation goals, inspires action and nurtures the next generation of nature-based leaders. If you or your organisation would like to play a part in implementing this vision, we encourage you to get in touch.
Find more details in this concept note or email ken.iucncec@gmail.comemaile. to start the conversation. Your partnership will make all the difference.
CEC Knowledge Products coming for Congress
CEC members are rolling up their sleeves to develop a range of practical, accessible knowledge products designed to meet the evolving needs of IUCN members. From ten-step guides on crafting a communication strategy, greening a schoolyard, or building a youth engagement plan, to a White Paper on Nature-based Education - these resources aim to support and inspire action across sectors. Your CEC Steering Committee is working hard to have IUCN Official publications and CEC publications ready to serve the Union in time for the IUCN Congress.
Invite a friend to join the IUCN CEC
It’s the last chance in this cycle to get involved in the CEC activities and join that amazing community. Please invite someone you know who can benefit and contribute to this exciting work on education and communication.
Time to become a member!
