IUCN Deputy Director General’s Statement at the High-level Ministerial Dialogue From Ambition to Action: Delivering Rio Synergies Across the Triple COP Year 

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, colleagues and partners  

I have the honour to speak in my capacity as the Chair of the Ulaanbaatar Technical Dialogue:  following the Antalya Dialogue held in May this year. This was the second Technical Dialogue on Rio Synergies in the COP31 Presidency process.  

Interventions from 24 Parties produced a consistent message.

First, countries need practical ways to connect their ambition across the Rio Conventions and they need this yesterday. This means building coherence across NDCs, NBSAPs, Land Degradation Neutrality targets and adaptation plans through stronger coordination across ministries and levels of government.

Second, land provides common ground. Restoration, Nature-based Solutions and landscape approaches can deliver climate, biodiversity and land outcomes together. Yet, fragmented institutions, finance and data continue to fragment delivery.  

And third – rest assured – the solution is not to create another initiative or structure. It is to connect national priorities with existing technical capacity, finance and implementation experience—and make action investable, measurable and inclusive of local governments, Indigenous Peoples, local communities and civil society. 

For the COP31 process towards the Rio Synergies Group for Action, the vision is clear: Countries will voluntarily bring forward concrete actions — Partners will offer support for implementation of those actions.  

The Rio Synergies Group for Action, to be launched by Türkiye at COP31, will add value by working together with Parties around voluntary, concrete, country-led actions – connecting those actions with existing implementation support. Through its partnership with the Türkiye COP31 Presidency and the G20 Global Land Initiative, IUCN supports this process, through ENACT Partnership, and stands ready to contribute knowledge, tools and collaboration for country-led delivery.  

This work – led by the Türkiye COP31 Presidency – will be refined in Yerevan and carried forward to Antalya in November.  

As the Chair of the Ulaanbaatar Technical Dialogue, let me reflect: Synergies are not abstract they are about undertaking the right actions, in the right places, with the right partners. 
 
I thank you.