THE IUCN, CONVENED IN Abu Dhabi UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF RAZAN AL MUBARAK

Her Excellency Razan Al Mubarak, President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the world’s oldest and largest environmental network, announced the IUCN would hold its 108th Council Meeting in Abu Dhabi from the 18-20 January 2023. The meeting convened just one month after the historic Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework took place where nations pledged to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 and to protect at least 30% of terrestrial and marine areas.

With over 1,450 member organisations and more than 15,000 international experts, the IUCN provides public, private, and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development, and nature conservation to take place together.

The IUCN meeting brings together nearly 100 Council members, staff, and expert volunteer conservationists from around the world, including West and Southeast Asia, Oceania, South and North America, Africa, and West, Central, and East Europe. The meeting focused on the latest developments in nature conservation and exploring opportunities to incorporate nature and biodiversity conservation into the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) process. COP28 will take place at Expo City Dubai from November 30 to December 12, 2023. The IUCN meeting was made possible with financial support from the Abu Dhabi Government.

Ms Al Mubarak was elected to a four-year term as President of the IUCN in September 2021. In her role, she presides over the work of the Council; guides the IUCN Director General on issues and policies; works to elevate further the high regard in which the IUCN is held in the international arena; enhances the contribution it makes to support the protection of nature; facilitates its access to governments and international organisations at the highest level; and represents the IUCN at international events and meetings.

“I am honoured to welcome conservation leaders from around the world to Abu Dhabi. With the UAE as host to COP28 later this year, this is the perfect opportunity to explore the convergence of agendas between biodiversity and climate change,” said Ms Al Mubarak. “I am so proud that Abu Dhabi has prioritised nature and species conservation internationally, both through its sponsorships of events like this, and by leading important national and global initiatives to conserve Oryx, Houbara, and a myriad of threatened species.”

Ms Al Mubarak said the IUCN Council Meeting will also provide an opportunity to showcase the UAE’s leadership and innovation in nature conservation, particularly that of UAE-based IUCN members including the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, Al Ain Zoo, International Fund for Conservation of Houbara, as well as the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, Emirates Nature – WWF, and the Emirates Environmental Group.

This is not the first time that Abu Dhabi has hosted IUCN functions. Beginning in 2008, and again in 2012, 2015, and 2019, Abu Dhabi sponsored the leadership and planning meetings of the IUCN’s Species Survival Commission – an entity responsible for the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Over 200 delegates from around the world convened in Abu Dhabi during each of those four events.

About Razan Al Mubarak

Elected President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in September 2021, Razan Al Mubarak is the second woman to lead the organisation in its 75 year history and its first president from West Asia. She also serves as UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for the leadership team of COP28 UAE, which will take place in Dubai from November 30 to December 12, 2023. For more than 20 years, Razan has played a vital role in guiding the United Arab Emirates toward a more sustainable future while spearheading progressive environmental protection, species conservation, and climate action across West Asia and globally. Her diverse experience leading the largest environmental regulatory agency in the Middle East, an international philanthropic organisation supporting species conservation projects worldwide, and an NGO focused on citizen engagement earned her recognition as one of the top 100 Young Global Leaders by the World Economic Forum in 2018.