Bridging legislation and land restoration: The Global Changemaker Academy for Parliamentarians 2025

Innovation and Inclusion

The legislation sessions were a turning point, equipping MPs with a draft Model Law on Ecosystem Restoration and sparking debate on how to adapt it within their own national contexts. For some, this meant grappling with constitutional constraints; for others, it was an opportunity to align with ongoing reforms. What united them was a recognition that legislation is the bridge between global commitments and local change, which is the step that moves restoration from principle to practice.

The field visit to Eschweiler's recultivated mining landscapes demonstrated how degraded land can be transformed into thriving ecosystems. For those unable to physically access the site, UNSSC introduced an immersive Virtual Reality learning experience.

Polish MP Hon. Jan Filip Libicki, a wheelchair user, described it as both meaningful and inspiring: "With minimal assistance, VR allowed me to experience the site visit fully. It showed me that restoration is not abstract but about people's lives, their struggles, and their resilience."

The VR experience is UNSSC's commitment to inclusion, ensuring that every learner could fully engage in the Academy's learning journey.

A shared truth and call to action

Each story and session revealed the same truth: land is not a partisan issue. Land is life. And parliamentarians, across ideologies and borders, hold the power to turn this vision into action.

As the G-CAP 2025 closed, the sense of urgency was palpable. This was not just about learning, but about forging a network of legislators committed to returning home with sharpened legislative and advocacy tools, fresh resolve, and a deeper connection to colleagues from every corner of the globe.

The question now is simple: what will you do with your mandate?

G-CAP 2026 will return, offering another generation of parliamentarians the chance to join this global community of changemakers. The land is waiting. Will you answer its call?