On behalf of H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Dr. Manal Awad, Egypt’s Minister of Local Development and Acting Minister of Environment, has arrived in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, to participate in the IUCN World Conservation Congress, held from October 9–15, 2025.
Organized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the World Conservation Congress is the largest global gathering focused on protecting biodiversity and addressing urgent environmental challenges. Held once every four years, the 2025 edition brings together government leaders, scientists, civil society, youth, and the private sector to catalyze action for nature and climate.
Egypt’s Leadership Role in Global Climate Action
Speaking ahead of the conference, Dr. Awad emphasized the importance of this year’s Congress as a critical platform to accelerate environmental efforts, share scientific solutions to the climate crisis, and launch innovative, nature-based solutions to protect biodiversity.
“This Congress presents an opportunity to unite the world in launching a new era of transformative environmental action,” Dr. Awad said. “It’s a chance to reinforce the link between climate goals, sustainable development, and innovation.”
She highlighted Egypt’s ongoing commitment to advancing the Paris Agreement targets and delivering on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through cross-sectoral and regional collaboration.
Key Engagements and Regional Focus
During the Congress, Dr. Awad will take part in several high-level sessions and roundtables, including:
- A regional discussion on the “30×30” conservation initiative in West Asia, aiming to conserve 30% of land and marine areas by 2030.
- A session on aligning regional action with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
- A panel focused on preserving the marine ecosystems of the Gulf of Aqaba, a biodiversity hotspot and model for regional cooperation.
Egypt Showcases ENACT Success Stories
In a keynote address, Dr. Awad will present success stories from Egypt’s ENACT Initiative — a global coordination platform for scaling up nature-based solutions (NbS). Launched at COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh in partnership with Germany and IUCN, ENACT aims to bridge the gap between climate ambition and action by implementing scalable, community-driven environmental solutions.
Dr. Awad will also meet with IUCN Director General Dr. Grethel Aguilar and fellow ministers to discuss Egypt’s strategic role in supporting IUCN’s global mission and advancing regional environmental cooperation.
About the IUCN World Conservation Congress
The IUCN Congress serves as a global forum for setting the conservation agenda for the next four years. It gathers leaders from over 160 countries, including governments, NGOs, academics, and the private sector. The event focuses on critical issues such as climate change, nature-based solutions, indigenous rights, marine conservation, and sustainable development.
