What is the IUCN World Conservation Congress—and why is IFAW going

Many motions get voted on in advance of the Congress and then rubber-stamped at the event, while others get debated at the Congress itself. Key topics at this year's Congress include:

If enough members vote in favour of a motion, it becomes official policy for the IUCN and its partners and can guide conservation efforts globally.

This year, IFAW is supporting more than a dozen motions and co-sponsoring many of them. Each one reflects our commitment to a world where animals and people can thrive together.

Animals are part of the climate solution

When people think about climate change, they often think about reducing fossil fuels or planting trees. But there's another powerful solution-protecting wild animals.

Research shows that many species boost their ecosystems' ability to capture and store carbon. Elephants help large carbon-rich tree species grow by spreading seeds. Mesopelagic fish boost the carbon sequestration power of the ocean. Even sea otters play a role-kelp forests with otters can store up to 12 times more carbon than those without. Yet, current policy frameworks rarely consider these animals as part of climate solutions.

IFAW drafted Motion 039, which would help governments and organisations better understand-and include-wild animals in their climate strategies, and we were delighted to see it overwhelmingly supported in the electronic vote that preceded the Congress. It's time for wildlife to be seen not just as victims of climate change, but as part of the solution.

Planning for disasters means protecting animals, too

As floods, wildfires, and cyclones become more common, we've seen devastating impacts on wildlife. During Australia's 2019-2020 Black Summer bushfires, an estimated three billion animals were killed or displaced. And in other parts of the world, endangered species like sea turtles and tortoises have seen their populations collapse after storms. Yet, most countries still don't include wildlife in their disaster plans.

IFAW co-drafted and co-sponsored Motion 040, which pushes for change-so that wildlife is considered before, during, and after disasters. From including animals in early warning systems and evacuation plans to supporting trained responders and long-term habitat recovery, this is an area where urgent action can save lives. Motion 40 also received overwhelming support in the recent e-vote.