Armenia joins the ENACT Partnership, ENACT showcases success and challenges of Nature-based Solutions at IUCN World Conservation Congress

Moderated by Sandeep Sengupta, IUCN Global Policy Lead on Climate Change, the discussion highlighted the critical role Nature-based Solutions play in tackling climate change, biodiversity loss, and sustainable development. Speakers underscored the need for proper planning, governance, financing, and monitoring to ensure that Nature-based Solutions drive long-term systemic change.

Opening the session, Her Excellency Dr Manal Awad Mikhail, Minister of Local Development and Acting Minister of the Environment, Egypt, emphasised the origins and ambition of ENACT: "The ENACT Partnership emanated from our call to expand Nature-based Solutions – to address the global challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss and land degradation,” she said. “ENACT is a global partnership and the aim is to bridge the gaps between ambition and action.”

She also highlighted Egypt’s leadership in advancing Nature-based Solutions on the ground: “Aiming to work towards integrating Nature-based Solutions into policies and strategies, Egypt has launched and implemented a number of successful projects and initiatives. The success of the ENACT Partnership to expand Nature-based Solutions through the Rio Conventions requires coordination across all stakeholders and organisations – we invite new partners to join forces to expand Nature-based Solutions.”

Mr Oliver Conz, Director General, Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN), underscored the urgency of investing in nature-positive action: “Nature is our best friend to protect climate and to find climate-friendly solutions,” he stated. “Solutions grounded in nature are among the most powerful tools to protect climate and biodiversity. Our shared responsibility is clear – we must match the urgency of today’s challenges with solutions that are rooted in nature.”

During the event, Armenia officially announced its entry into the ENACT Partnership. Mr Mher Margaryan, Ambassador, COP17 Chief Negotiator, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia highlighted the importance of integrating Nature-based Solutions into national climate and biodiversity strategies: “As a cross-cutting topic, Nature-based Solutions is closely interlinked and should be integrated in National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs),” he said. “Armenia has the pleasure to formally join the ENACT Partnership. We look forward to contributing to ENACT’s global efforts in innovative policy for nature-based action worldwide — where nature is placed at the heart of sustainable development.”

The Ambassador highlighted Armenia’s role as COP17 Presidency of the CBD and the country’s dedication to coordinated, inclusive approaches to global environmental challenges.  

With Armenia’s membership, ENACT further strengthens its role as the leading multilateral platform for scaling Nature-based Solution worldwide, creating synergies across the Rio Conventions, and supporting countries in delivering tangible solutions for people and nature.

Earlier today, it was also announced that Armenia has officially joined IUCN as a State Member, with the Ministry of Environment serving as the national liaison to the IUCN Secretariat — underscoring the country’s commitment to advancing biodiversity conservation and raising ambition for nature.

Contributions from representatives of IUCN, UNEP-WCMC, Global Affairs Canada, Keidanren, Rakuno Gakuen University, the Climate Champions team, and the IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management were also made during the event.

About the ENACT Partnership

The Enhancing Nature-based Solutions for an Accelerated Climate Transformation (ENACT) Partnership is a global alliance accelerating Nature-based Solutions to tackle climate, biodiversity, and land degradation crises. It unites governments and non-state actors to conserve nature, enhance the resilience of 1 billion people, and drive integrated Rio Convention goals.  

ENACT will be hosting several events at this year’s UNFCCC COP30 in Belém, Brazil, including the launch of its flagship Nature-based Solutions Accelerator Pathways Report -- a landmark publication articulating concrete pathways to scale up the adoption of Nature-based Solutions. Complementing discussions from today’s event, the report will provide conceptual frameworks grounded in practice through case studies, illustrating further how NbS can move from fragmented interventions to transformational, system-wide solutions.

For more information on ENACT and its activities, visit: https://enactpartnership.org/.