France to host IUCN World Conservation Congress 2020
Marseille, France, 18 May 2018 (IUCN) – The French Ministry for the Ecological and Inclusive Transition and IUCN, International Union for Conservation of
Nature, today signed an agreement to jointly organise the next IUCN World Conservation Congress, to be held in 2020 in
Marseille.
The signing follows IUCN Council’s selection of France as the host country for the IUCN Congress, based on a rigorous
evaluation process of France’s candidature. A presentation of a new biodiversity plan by the French Minster for
Ecological and Inclusive Transition, Nicolas Hulot, preceded the signing ceremony.
“France is particularly honoured to succeed the United States in organising the biggest international gathering of
environmentalists,” said Nicolas Hulot, French Minster for Ecological and Inclusive Transition. “We want this Congress to be the event that brings together solutions for biodiversity. I am confident that the whole
government, but also French territories, business, and all of French society will rally to make this a large-scale
mobilisation for nature, in France, in Europe and throughout the world.”
Held every four years, the IUCN Congress is the world’s largest conservation event. It brings together leaders from
government, civil society, indigenous peoples’ organisations, business and academia to determine the world’s most
pressing environmental and development challenges, and actions to address them.
“We are honoured to announce France as the host of the next IUCN World Conservation Congress,” says IUCN President Zhang Xinsheng.
“The year 2020 is set to be a momentous year for the planet. The IUCN Congress will be central in mobilising the
international community ahead of critical decisions to be taken later that year regarding global efforts to tackle
biodiversity loss and climate change. We are proud to be joining forces with France at such a critical time.”
IUCN’s long-standing relationship with France dates back to the establishment of the Union in 1948, in the French town
of Fontainebleau. Since 2005, France has been one of IUCN’s Framework Partners – supporting the delivery of IUCN’s
programme of work in applying nature-based solutions to humanity’s greatest challenges.
“Today’s announcement reinforces France’s leadership role in addressing the critical environmental and development
challenges humanity faces today,” saysIUCN Director General Inger Andersen. “IUCN’s relationship with France has gone from strength to strength since the very founding of the Union 70 years ago,
and we are delighted that the IUCN Congress 2020 will make our ties even closer. Only by working hand in hand with true
global leaders, such as France, can we drive meaningful action towards a more sustainable future.”
Backing from all levels of the French authorities, from the municipal level to the national government, as well as
France’s commitment to event sustainability and engagement from French IUCN Members are among the reasons behind
France’s selection.
There are 49 IUCN Member organisations in France and the IUCN French National Committee, created in 1992, aims to facilitate cooperation between them and other parts of the Union. The country is home to 254
scientific and policy experts who are members of IUCN Commissions.
New global targets to curb the escalating biodiversity crisis under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity are to be
set later in 2020. This is also the year when the Paris Agreement on climate change will formally come into effect and
start being implemented, with countries submitting new or updated pledges.
The last IUCN World Conservation Congress, held in 2016 in Hawaii, United States of America, was attended by some 10,000 participants from 192 countries.
It saw the announcement of major conservation commitments, and defined a roadmap for the implementation of the historic
agreements adopted in 2015 – the Paris Agreement on climate change and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The IUCN Congress 2020 will be held from 11 to 19 June at Marseille’s Parc Chanot.