Engagement in international conferences and summits

UNFCC COPs

–climate–

IUCN engages in the Climate COPs to communicate the linkages between nature, biodiversity and climate. In particular, the dual effects of agriculture’s impacts on climate change and the impact of climate change on agriculture are explored. In COP 28 in Dubai, Saudia Arabia we organised sessions sharing lessons and tools on Nature-based Solutions in agriculture and a “Common Ground” dialogue, an inclusive discussions forum to build awareness, address controversies and build trust between agriculture and conservation communities. During COP28, IUCN, together with more than 200 non-State actors, signed the Call to Action for Food Systems Transformation, confirming the commitment to contribute to foster the transformation towards nature positive and climate friendly, resilient, nutritious and inclusive food systems.

In the upcoming COP, in November 2025, we are preparing a side event on Innovative Finance to Scale Restoration for Sustainable Agriculture. We are also supporting the  pre-COP event Bridging the Gaps: Advancing Coherent Policies for Climate Adaptation and Mitigation for Agriculture and Food that will be held in Santos (near São Paulo), Brazil on 7 November 2025.

CBD COPs

–biodiversity–

The CBD (Biodiversity) COP 16 was held in Cali, Colombia, in 2024 with Resumed Sessions in Rome in early 2025.  IUCN’s Food and Agricultural Systems Team went to Cali emphasising that agriculture should be seen as an ally to nature and not a threat. We launched the flagship IUCN “Agriculture and Conservation” report in Cali to underline this. We also outlined the biodiversity benefits from true inclusivity for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, including family farmers. IUCN participates in the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, which reports to each CBD.

CCD COPs

–desertification, land degradation and drought–

At the CCD COP16 in 2024 IUCN Food and Agricultural Systems delegates went to Riyadh to mobilize the agricultural and conservation communities to come together in common ground on land use, landscape governance, and agricultural systems that can align nature restoration, food security and livelihood objectives. IUCN also contributes to the CRIC (Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention) which assists the COP in the ongoing process of reviewing how parties are implementing the Convention and the strategic framework.

Our events in Riyadh highlighted the vital role of Indigenous People and Local Communities. We also emphasized how Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in agricultural systems can effectively address food insecurity, ecosystem degradation, and climate adaptation. We stressed the role of soil health and innovative financing mechanisms which unlock public and private finance for land restoration and drought resilience. For more details click here:

IUCN Food and Agricultural Systems ½ UN CCD COP16 

UN Food Systems Summits (UNFSS)

At the UN Food Systems Summit+4 Stocktake in Rome in 2025 IUCN championed the role of soil health in achieving resilient and equitable and biodiverse food and agricultural systems. IUCN has been involved with organising the UNFSS since the first edition in 2021, and the growing importance of biodiversity considerations at the UN Food Systems Summit was demonstrated by the decision to allocate one of the official side event slots to the issue of soil health. For a full account of this session and IUCN’s other activity at UNFSS+4 click below:

https://iucn.org/story/202509/iucn-champions-soil-health-un-food-systems-summit-4

https://iucn.org/news/202507/iucn-unfss

Committee on Food Security (CFS)

At the Committee on Food Security 51 (CFS51) in 2023 IUCN held a side event on Nature-based Solutions in Agriculture, focussing on Decent Work supported by NbS following a joint IUCN, ILO and UNEP report which showed that the adoption of NbS has the potential to create millions of jobs around the world, particularly in the agriculture sector.  View the event recording here

Other international events

IUCN attends a wide range of other events focussed on food and agricultural systems, always making the case for agriculture as an ally of nature.

These include the Copenhagen Organic Summit and the Africa Food Systems Summit, with more details here