The following article, written by Francesca Gugino and Nicole Trent, is part of a series of reflections on the upcoming International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) World Conservation Congress to be held in Abu Dhabi, October 2025. The series entitled “Classroom to Congress” examines proposed motions by the Global Center for Environmental Legal Studies (GCELS) at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University on a variety of environmental issues to be decided at the Congress. The articles in this series were developed through a guided research program for Pace | Haub Environmental Law students.
Every four years, the students, alumni, and faculty of the Environmental Law Program at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law, Pace University (New York) engage in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s World Conservation Congress (WCC). This event is the primary policy-making session of the IUCN and serves as the culmination of a lengthy policy-making process, allowing member organizations of the IUCN to submit substantive policy proposals (also known as “motions” within the IUCN framework) that will craft IUCN’s future work agenda. Through Pace’s Global Center for Environmental Legal Studies (GCELS), a cohort of students and alumni, guided by faculty, drafted several motions that garnered support from IUCN members from all around the world. The IUCN World Conservation Congress (WCC), is set for October 9-15, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, UAE and Pace | Haub Environmental Law students and alumni are gearing up to participate in the congress sessions both in person and virtually, negotiating their motions and fostering youth engagement in the development of international environmental law and policy.
Founded in 1948, the IUCN is a global network dedicated to advancing environmental conservation worldwide by bringing together a variety of stakeholders to address the most urgent environmental concerns affecting conservation. IUCN’s membership consists of over 1400 governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), Indigenous Peoples’ organizations, civil society groups, and other stakeholder organizations working in the conservation space. The formal IUCN motions process allows IUCN members to propose issues for debate through motions that urge specific action or recognize critical environmental challenges. If accepted following review by the IUCN Motions Working Group, motions may proceed to (a) an electronic-vote or (b) further debate and a vote at Congress. If the motion proposal is not accepted, the decision may be appealed or other means of incorporation in IUCN work may be explored. If motions are adopted by IUCN members by e-vote or at Congress, these motions become “resolutions” and serve as policies for the IUCN to follow. Nearly 1,500 Resolutions and Recommendations have been adopted since the IUCN’s formation. Some of these policies have served as foundations for the development of international environmental treaties. Students are introduced to and guided through the IUCN motions process in an Advanced International Environmental Law course and a subsequent Guided Research course taught by Professor Achinthi Vithanage, Executive Director of Pace | Haub Environmental Law. In short, students go from Classroom to Congress! Involvement in the IUCN motions process provides students a unique opportunity to influence and shape international environmental law and advocate for solutions to environmental issues that transcend national borders.
Each motion addresses a complex international environmental challenge or series of related challenges. Motions typically advocate for action, recognition, or both. Below is a list of the student-led motions that were submitted for consideration, along with updates following the initial review process. More detailed information about each motion and updates will be provided in subsequent blogs in this series:
1. Strengthening the linkages between Zoonotic Risks and Conservation Efforts
This motion urges the IUCN to enhance conservation efforts in preventing zoonotic disease spread by preserving hotspots, assessing environmental impacts, and expanding the PANORAMA platform. It also calls for progress reporting on the IUCN Programme Addendum and promotes global partnerships for community-driven solutions, reinforcing the link between health, biodiversity, and conservation.
This motion has since been incorporated into two separate merged “One Health” motions that will go to e-vote ahead of Congress.
2. Strengthening Business Engagement in Climate Adaptation for Preservation of Biodiversity and Ecosystems
This motion urges the IUCN to recognize businesses’ role in climate adaptation and promotes best practices for ecosystem-based solutions. It calls for regulatory incentives for corporate investment in locally-led efforts and encourages businesses to integrate nature-based solutions while collaborating with Indigenous and local communities.
This motion has since been merged and will go to e-vote ahead of Congress.
3. Strengthening Mechanisms for Public Participation in Environmental Policy-Making
This motion urges all states to ratify the Aarhus Convention and Escazú Agreement and calls for expedited approvals for non-UNECE members. It advocates for amendments requiring, rather than suggesting, public participation in environmental policy-making. Additionally, it directs the IUCN Director General to form a Task Force to evaluate enforcement, identify best practices, and publish findings before the 2029 IUCN WCC.
This motion was not selected to be voted upon by members and was submitted for appeal. Alternate pathways for incorporation in IUCN work are being explored.
4. Port State Measures Regarding IUU Fishing
This motion calls on IUCN members to advocate for implementation and further enforcement of port state measures to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. IUU fishing is a threat to marine biodiversity, human rights, and marine conservation. This motion invites port states to consider adopting and implementing stronger port measures to fight the prevalence and spread of ports of convenience.
This motion will move forward and be voted upon in person in Abu Dhabi in October at the members’ assembly.
5. Strengthening Gender Equality and Addressing Gender-Based Violence in IUCN Conservation Projects: Enhancing Clarity, Transparency, and Financial Accountability
This motion urges IUCN members to integrate gender-sensitive and intersectional approaches in conservation, recognizing gender equality as key to effective efforts. It calls for addressing gender-based violence, strengthening monitoring, and tracking financial commitments. The motion also advocates for robust gender indicators, dedicated funding, and mainstreaming gender in biodiversity finance.
This motion has since been merged and will go to e-vote ahead of Congress.
6. Promoting the conservation and restoration of the Latin American mangrove ecosystems through the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) mechanism
This motion urges the IUCN Director General to strengthen partnerships for REDD+ mangrove projects in Latin America and advance the Mangrove Breakthrough goals. It calls for halting mangrove loss, restoring recent losses, doubling protection, and securing sustainable financing to preserve these vital ecosystems.
This motion was not selected to be voted upon by members. Alternate pathways for incorporation in IUCN work are being explored.
7. Halting the chemical pollution by textile industries in the water bodies of Southern and South-eastern Asia
This motion calls on the IUCN Commissions and Members to start addressing a major problem for species and local communities: the chemical pollution of water bodies caused by textile manufacturing, particularly in Asian countries that are fashion production hubs.
This motion was not selected to be voted upon by members and was submitted for appeal. Alternate pathways for incorporation in IUCN work are being explored.
8. Promoting the Protection of Indigenous Languages
This motion for the 2025 IUCN World Conservation Congress highlights the urgent need to protect Indigenous languages, recognizing their role in preserving traditional ecological knowledge. Their loss threatens biodiversity and sustainable environmental management, making their preservation essential for global conservation efforts.
This motion will move forward and be voted upon in person in Abu Dhabi in October at the members’ assembly.
Additionally, Pace | Haub Environmental Law students are involved in research and advocacy for the following additional motions proposed by CELS:
9. Resolution on Soil Security Law
This motion asks the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law (WCEL) to develop the foundations for an international convention or global legal instrument on soil security. It asks WCEL to develop concepts and parameters for an instrument, to evaluate and propose national or regional laws with a focus on sustainable agriculture, and to generate momentum among member States to support soil security on a national and global level.
This motion will move forward and be voted upon in person in Abu Dhabi in October at the members’ assembly.
10. Conserving Temperate Native Grassland for Conservation at Landscape Scale
This motion acknowledges the need to prioritize conserving temperate native grasslands and promotes the utilization of environmental law to assign priority to grassland conservation and designate legal protection for grasslands.
This motion has since been merged and will go to e-vote ahead of Congress.
With the support of several other partners, including the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law, the IUCN Commission on Education and Communication, the American Bar Association Section on Environment Energy and Resources (ABA SEER), Center for Environmental Ethics and Law (CEEL), William S. Richardson School of Law Environmental Law Program, Global Youth Biodiversity Network USA (GYBN USA), World Future Council, and the Youth Negotiators Academy, GCELS submitted a proposal for youth to showcase this learning experience at the IUCN Forum, immediately preceding the IUCN Congress, in a Deep Dive Session entitled “From Classroom to Congress: Engaging Youth in the Making of International Environmental Policy.” With the IUCN recently accepting this proposal, Pace | Haub Environmental Law students and graduates will present their motion topics, share their research and learning experiences, and discuss the legal implications of the proposed policies. The Deep Dive Session will be held in person at the IUCN WCC in Abu Dhabi on October 11 at 8:30am UAE time.
This session brings together educators who engage youth and young professionals in the IUCN motions development process, as well as youth who have benefited from such learning, and connects them with other educators and youth who wish to engage in similar activities. The session will include discussion tables facilitated by youth experienced in the IUCN motions development process and will feature 1-2 motions that were developed by them. They will facilitate a motion analysis activity with youth attendees, introducing them to the issues addressed in the motions, while teaching motions drafting skills. Attendees will then switch tables to learn and analyze another 1-2 new motions. There will also be a chance for Q&A towards the end of the session.
With generous financial assistance from the Consortium of Ecological Law enabling attendance and participation in the 2025 WWC in Abu Dhabi, these students and recent graduates of Pace | Haub Environmental Law have an incredible opportunity to actively shape the future of international environmental law and policy.
Learn more about their motions and the outcomes of the IUCN Forum event in the upcoming blogs in this series.
Francesca Gugino and Nicole Trent are Research Assistants for the Center for Environmental Legal Studies at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University.