Abu Dhabi, UAE – October 9, 2025: The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) demonstrated the United Arab Emirates’ unwavering commitment to a nature-positive future during a series of high-level engagements at IUCN World Conservation Congress, taking place in Abu Dhabi from October 9 to 15, 2025.
Her Excellency Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, delivered a keynote address on the inaugural day of the Congress welcoming heads of states, delegates, and environmentalists.
Addressing the global biodiversity congress, HE Dr. Amna said: “Our responsibility towards our planet is no longer a matter of choice, it is a moral and human obligation. This is a principle instilled in us by our Founding Father, His Highness the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who believed that humanity and nature are inseparable partners in the journey of life.”
She added: “The vision of the UAE extends beyond its national borders, serving as both a driver and a catalyst for global cooperation and shared prosperity. We are advancing nature-based solutions through the Mangrove Alliance for Climate, addressing pollution in rivers and seas through the international initiative Clean Rivers, and enhancing the sustainability of global water resources through the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative, among many other efforts.”
In her speech, HE highlighted the UAE’s firm believes in the necessity of harnessing human progress and technological advancement to safeguard nature and to foster human prosperity.
HE commented: “Just as a tree sets its roots deep in the soil to bear fruit and sustain life, I invite you today to plant the roots of global cooperation, so that we may cultivate security and prosperity for all humankind.”
The congress began with presence of representatives from 140 countries of the world. Later in the day, His Excellency Mohammed Saeed Al Nuaimi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, signed an MoU on behalf of the Ministry with HE Sheikh Fahim Sultan Khalid Al Qasimi, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Seafood Souq. Under the MoU, the two entities will collaborate on the SFS Trace Project, a full-chain traceability solution capturing data from catch or harvest through every transformation step.
HE Al Nuaimi welcomed this important partnership, stating: “At the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment we are committed to implementing the highest standards of global food safety as a top priority in meeting the objectives of the National Food Security Strategy and ensuring the health and wellbeing of all residents. The Ministry is working to implement policies, laws, and regulations in collaboration with diverse stakeholders to guarantee that all food products across the entire food value chain comply with regulations, ensuring the safety and well-being. This partnership will drive greater transparency and control for consumers on what they eat.”
In another important engagement, Her Excellency Hiba Obaid Alshehhi, Acting Assistant Undersecretary of Biodiversity and Marine Life Sector at MOCCAE, participated in a panel discussion underscoring the MENA Target 3 “Stock-take” Dialogue: Accelerating Action towards 30×30 in the Region.
HE Hiba emphasised the UAE’s unwavering commitment to the global 30×30 target, which aims to ensure that by 2030 at least 30% of terrestrial, inland water, coastal, and marine areas are effectively conserved and managed.
HE Hiba said: “The UAE is unwavering in its commitment to the global 30×30 target, driven by a deep appreciation for nature and a strategic vision for sustainability. Its current baseline of protected and conserved areas, encompassing terrestrial, marine, and candidate OECMs, is robust and continually expanding. The pathway to achieving ecologically representative and well-connected 30% coverage by 2030 is multifaceted, involving rigorous scientific assessment, strategic expansion of protected networks, and fostering connectivity. Our membership in the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People (HAC) is instrumental, providing a platform for global collaboration, sharing best practices, and reinforcing political will.
“With just five years remaining, challenges include rapid development, competing land/sea use, ensuring effective management and ecological representation, and the existential threat of climate change. To address these, the UAE is adopting a science-driven, technology-enabled approach. This involves leveraging remote sensing and AI for biodiversity mapping, engaging all stakeholders, and exploring innovative financing. The focus is on adaptive management and the quality and effectiveness of conservation efforts, ensuring a thriving natural heritage for future generations.”
The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment actively participated in key pre-Congress events, including the Youth Summit and the MENA Oceans Summit.
In another engagement, HE Hiba participated in the High Level Regional Consultation: Governance & Policy as part of the third MENA Oceans Summit, delivering the UAE statement and extending a formal welcome to all participants to advance sustainable ocean management.
Discussions were guided by the MENA Ocean Action Agenda, regional situation analyses by IUCN, and the launch of the Neptune Mission to strengthen scientific cooperation. The panellists mapped short- and long-term priorities, shared best practices, identified key stakeholders, addressed challenges to transboundary action, and developed a roadmap for coordinated regional engagement.
On the same day, the Youth Summit, the flagship platform for young voices in conservation, highlighted youth leadership and fostered intergenerational dialogue.
At the summit, HE Al Nuaimi underscored the UAE’s commitment to empowering youth: “The UAE is committed to empowering youth, recognising their central role in shaping the future of our planet. At COP28, in 2023, we ensured the voice of youth was heard throughout negotiations. Similarly, today, they have a platform from which to take the lead. We believe the key to lasting change lies in empowering the next generation of environmental leaders. It is imperative that their voices are heard in global decision-making.”
The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment’s engagements at the IUCN World Conservation Congress underscored the UAE’s leadership in driving global environmental action, emphasising the critical role of technology, cross-sectoral partnerships, integrated policy frameworks, and youth empowerment in achieving sustainable development and a nature-positive world.
ENDS
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