Tag Archive for: biodiversity

13th WEEC in Perth: call to hope and action

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From September 21 to 25, 2026, the city of Perth, Australia, will host the 13th World Environmental Education Congress (WEEC), a global event that brings together experts, educators, activists, and institutions from across the globe. This congress marks a pivotal moment to address pressing environmental challenges and foster transformative education that meets the urgent needs of our time. Mario Salomone, Secretary-General of WEEC, delivers a clear message in his official invitation: “Education is the most powerful tool to change the world in the way we envision.” With this call, Salomone encourages everyone to participate in an event that promises opportunities for dialogue, collective growth, and personal development.

WEEC 2026: toward a sustainable future for all

In his invitation, Salomone reflects: “Across the world, billions dream of peace, a secure and serene life, and the ability to fulfill fundamental needs such as health, education, cultural enrichment, protection from threats to human life, access to quality food, and living in welcoming, biodiverse environments.”

This shared vision lies at the heart of WEEC, a congress aimed at addressing the critical needs of a world increasingly fragile and vulnerable to growing social and environmental inequalities.

With heightened awareness of climate change and environmental crises, the congress seeks to promote education that goes beyond information-sharing to inspire profound societal and individual change. Salomone highlights the reality faced globally: “In both developed and disadvantaged countries, billions experience climate upheavals, alternating between extremes—floods and droughts, heatwaves and cold spells.”

The 13th WEEC will serve as a key platform to explore how education can become an essential ally in tackling these global challenges.

Environmental education: an anchor of hope

“Change is in our hands,” says Salomone, emphasizing the pivotal role of environmental education, which began to take shape in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Since then, it has played a critical role in guiding societies toward greater environmental responsibility, equipping generations with the skills and awareness needed to address future challenges.

Reflecting on the transformative power of education, Salomone explains: “Environmental education serves billions worldwide—those who live, work, study, and dream. It nurtures generations of determined dreamers, realists, and builders of desirable, achievable futures.”

The Perth congress aligns with this vision of hope and concrete action. Education, Salomone asserts, is not merely a tool to impart knowledge but an instrument of empowerment and change.

Addressing the challenge of educational access

Salomone also sheds light on a critical global issue: “Around the world, tens of thousands of universities and millions of primary and secondary school teachers are working to quench the thirst for learning among youth and adults. Yet hundreds of millions lack access to education or cannot benefit from adequate learning opportunities.”

The disparity in access to education remains one of the greatest challenges, particularly in an era defined by rapid technological and climatic changes. For education to be a universal right, accessible to all, we must ensure that every individual becomes an active participant in society and the environment.

In this context, Salomone underscores: “Learning is fundamental for becoming active agents in an era of increasingly rapid change.” The 13th WEEC seeks to tackle this challenge by exploring innovative solutions to enhance access to quality education, with a focus on sustainability and social equity.

A Congress for dialogue, inspiration, and growth

The WEEC is not merely an academic gathering; it is an opportunity for dialogue and exchange among diverse stakeholders dedicated to promoting education for sustainability. Salomone extends an open invitation: “To people and institutions alike, the World Congress will be a wonderful opportunity for exchange, inspiration, and encouragement, as well as personal and collective growth.”

This global dialogue aims to involve everyone, from experts and researchers to ordinary citizens, fostering a true transformation on a global scale. The congress will go beyond theoretical discussions to address practical needs and outline actionable steps for sustainable education and action. As Salomone puts it, the congress will provide “a chance to reflect on the state and evolution of learning required in today’s world.”

Each discussion, workshop, and presentation will contribute to building a new educational paradigm capable of addressing contemporary challenges.

“No Limits to Hope”: a vision for the future

A cornerstone of the 13th WEEC will be the presentation of the report “No Limits to Hope”, developed in collaboration with The Fifth Element and the Club of Rome. This report explores the educational changes needed to tackle global environmental challenges and foster boundless hope for the planet’s future.

“The hope that drives us knows no bounds,” encapsulates the essence of this document, which will take center stage at the Perth congress. Salomone invites everyone to commit to daily efforts toward “transformative learning” and to join in Australia to evaluate progress and set new goals: “Let’s work every day on transformative learning and meet in Australia to take stock,” he states.

Learn more: An international research project for a new educational paradigm: “No Limits to Hope”

13th World Environmental Education Congress: an unmissable event

The 13th World Environmental Education Congress is shaping up to be one of the most significant opportunities for reflection and commitment to the future of our planet. Salomone concludes his message with a heartfelt invitation to stay connected and prepare for a meeting that promises to pave the way for a fairer, more sustainable future for all: “See you soon. In the meantime, let’s stay in touch!”

For updates and to participate in this extraordinary event, visit the official website of the 13th World Environmental Education Congress: www.weec2026.org.

Education, youth empowerment, and global partnerships at the heart of biodiversity action

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by Jason J. Pitman

As the world continues to confront the urgent challenges of biodiversity loss and environmental degradation, the importance of education as a key driver for change has never been clearer. At 2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP16), held in Cali, Colombia in October, the global community came together to reaffirm the vital role of education in advancing the conservation goals outlined in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. With an eye toward 2026, this momentum will carry forward into the 13th World Environmental Education Congress (WEEC), hosted in Perth, Western Australia, where key themes around transformative educational approaches will be explored.

On Wednesday, 23rd October, the spotlight at COP16 was firmly on education, with a dedicated Education Day at the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Pavilion. This event responded directly to the May 2024 request from the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Subsidiary Body on Implementation, who called for a Global Plan of Action for Education on Biodiversity. The day brought together over a hundred education experts, leaders, and importantly young people, from across the globe to discuss the essential frameworks, activities, and partnerships required to advance biodiversity education at local and global levels.

The Education Day underscored a clear message. Education is not a luxury, but a fundamental tool for achieving global biodiversity targets. The discussions highlighted how embedding education into national biodiversity strategies, curricula, and policies will be crucial to ensuring the long-term success of biodiversity conservation efforts. From formal to non-formal education, the call was made for all systems to integrate biodiversity education across every level of society, from classrooms to community spaces.

One of the most powerful moments of the day was the release of the Global Child Biodiversity Declaration, crafted by youth delegates from over 25 countries. The Declaration, produced as part of the EducationNatureNexus (#ENN) program run by the Centre for Global Education. In preparation for the Declaration, over 600 children aged 6-18 from around the world participated in a Global Student Environment Survey, sharing their personal experiences with nature, environmental education, and government policies. This Declaration represents a powerful call to action for the world to listen, and act upon, youth voices in the fight for biodiversity preservation. In their declaration, youth demanded government policies ensure every child’s right to high-quality biodiversity education, integration of Indigenous knowledge, and transformative curricula to encourage hands-on, nature-based learning.

The declaration also highlighted the rising tide of eco-anxiety among young people, with nearly 80% of students globally report feeling a deep concern for the planet’s future. But this also demonstrates their readiness to engage in transformative solutions as witness by the young people who spoke clearly and confidently in announcing the Declaration to an international audience. The energy and passion of these young changemakers will form the foundation for future efforts, including the call to action for education to become central in achieving the ambitious biodiversity targets set by COP16.

A major takeaway from the Education Day discussions was the power of partnerships. Educators, governments, organisations, and youth must work together, pooling resources and knowledge to drive the educational reforms needed for biodiversity conservation.

This spirit of collaboration will carry over into the 13th World Environmental Education Congress in 2026, where participants will continue to explore how partnerships can foster interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches in education, enabling global cooperation for a more sustainable and biodiverse future. The next WEEC will be a platform for showcasing successful examples of cross-sector partnerships in education, and for inviting global partners to unite behind shared goals of educational transformation.

As momentum builds, the 13th WEEC 2026 in Perth will focus on two critical international calls to action address the needs identified at COP16. The first call, Empowering Learners as Change Agents will seek to inspire educational reforms to build agency in learners, enabling them to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and leadership skills to actively participate in societal change and tackle environmental challenges. As witness in the Declaration prepared and voiced by international youth. The second call, Interdisciplinary Approaches for a Sustainable Future, will continue to amplify the need for education systems to integrate interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches, breaking down silos between subjects, and fostering a holistic understanding of the interconnectedness of biodiversity, climate, and sustainable development. Through these actions, communities will be better equipped to respond to the multifaceted challenges of the biodiversity crisis.

As COP16 draws to a close, we have two years in preparation for the 13th WEEC 2026. With this, there is a growing call for global partners to get involved and continue in these critical conversation. Governments, NGOs, educational institutions, and the private sector all have a role to play in advancing education for biodiversity. However, perhaps the most important partners are young people. They are the future stewards of the planet, and their voices must be heard in every conversation about environmental education and action.

The Youth Environmental Education Congress 2026 will take place in conjunction with WEEC, and its sole-purpose is to amplify the diverse youth voices in environmental education. Further reigniting the need and call for young people to globally unite with educators, policymakers, and thought leaders to explore intergenerational wisdom and create space for youth-led solutions including:

  • Bridging the gap between youth and elders for educational transformation.
  • Challenging conventional educational structures and embracing ecological perspectives.
  • Ensuring inclusivity and amplifying marginalised or under-represented voices in educational spaces.
  • Pioneering change into the broader sustainability agenda.

As the global community continues critical conversations outside of the confines of conference walls, the action from COP16 is clear: we must prioritise education for biodiversity conservation, empower youth to take a leading role, and foster collaborative partnerships to achieve shared environmental goals. The declaration from youth at COP16 provides a powerful roadmap for the future of education and biodiversity, and the work will continue at 13th WEEC 2026, where we will collectively chart the path toward a more sustainable and biodiverse world. Therefore, we invite global partners, educational institutions, youth organisations, and environmental leaders to join us in this transformative journey. Together, we can create an educational ecosystem, one empowering learners, fosters collective action, and delivers tangible solutions for the planet’s future.

COP16, keys to biodiversity conservation

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COP16 on Biodiversity took place in Cali, Colombia, from October 21 to November 1, 2024. This important event brought together representatives from around 200 nations, industry experts, activists, and members of indigenous communities. The conference focused on diverse ideas and strategies for protecting biodiversity, a topic that is increasingly vital in light of the ongoing ecological crisis.

During COP16, Jason J. Pitman, co-organizer of the WEEC 2026 congress scheduled for Perth, Australia, actively engaged in crucial discussions and initiatives surrounding environmental conservation. Stay connected with us on social media and subscribe to our newsletter for updates. Soon, you can read his article sharing insights and experiences from this significant international gathering.

Biodiversity crisis

Our planet’s biodiversity is facing unprecedented pressure. The IPBES (Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services) reports that one million species are at risk of extinction. This is primarily due to climate change, habitat loss, pollution, and the introduction of invasive species. This crisis endangers not only the species themselves but also the ecosystem services that humans rely on for survival and well-being.

The upcoming COP16 conference occurs against the backdrop of the Kunming-Montreal Agreement and the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). These initiatives aim to halt biodiversity loss and restore ecosystems by 2030. COP16’s mission is to translate these ambitious goals into concrete, measurable actions.

Results of the conference

Advisory Body for Indigenous Peoples: One of the conference’s most significant outcomes was the establishment of a permanent advisory body for indigenous peoples. This new organization aims to ensure that indigenous communities have a voice in biodiversity conservation decisions. These communities, who hold extensive traditional knowledge and sustainable practices, are crucial for protecting ecosystems and managing natural resources.

Cali Fund: The conference approved the Cali Fund, designed to facilitate the sharing of benefits derived from digital genetic information. This fund is particularly relevant for the pharmaceutical industry, which often accesses genetic resources without providing adequate compensation to local communities. However, the voluntary nature of the payments from the fund raises concerns about its effectiveness in ensuring a fair return for these communities.

Protection of Marine Areas: Another important agreement was the recognition and protection of ecologically and biologically significant marine areas (EBSAs). This decision includes the creation of an international advisory group to coordinate conservation efforts in international waters. Protecting our oceans is vital, as they are essential for climate regulation and marine biodiversity.

Funding and Governance: Despite the progress made, COP16 revealed a significant impasse regarding the funding necessary for biodiversity conservation. Developing countries, which host the majority of the world’s biodiversity, called for the establishment of a new fund with fair governance. Distrust in the Global Environment Facility (GEF) complicated negotiations, making it challenging to reach an agreement on funding.

Unfortunately, the funding promises from developed countries have fallen short of meeting the needs expressed by developing nations.

Facing the crisis and challenges

COP16 highlighted not only the successes but also the enormous challenges that remain in biodiversity conservation. Initiatives like the Cali Fund and the inclusion of indigenous peoples are significant steps, but they are insufficient without robust financial support and concrete implementation measures.

Another challenge is the need to monitor and evaluate progress towards the established goals. Without clear monitoring mechanisms, it is difficult to ensure that the adopted policies have a real impact on biodiversity conservation. Furthermore, the implementation of conservation measures must be accompanied by strategies for adapting to climate change, as many ecosystems are already under pressure from this phenomenon.

The issue of accountability and transparency in the management of biodiversity funds is crucial. Developing countries have expressed concern that existing funds have not been used effectively and that governance is often influenced by external interests, creating a disparity in resource control and decision-making regarding conservation.

Towards a sustainable future? Reflections on COP16 and biodiversity prospects

As we reflect on the developments of COP16, it becomes evident that while significant progress has been achieved, the conference underscored the fragility of international agreements concerning biodiversity. The creation of an advisory body for indigenous peoples and the establishment of the Cali Fund are positive steps forward. However, the absence of a clear financing agreement raises concerns.

It is crucial for the international community to ramp up efforts to ensure that funding commitments lead to tangible actions. Biodiversity is not solely an environmental issue; it is also deeply intertwined with economic and social factors. Protecting biodiversity equates to investing in the future of our planet and the well-being of future generations.

Furthermore, the active involvement of indigenous communities is essential. These groups possess a profound understanding of their lands and resources, along with a cultural and spiritual connection to nature that is vital for effective conservation. It is imperative that their rights are upheld and their voices are amplified.

COP16 should serve as a wake-up call for all of us. The biodiversity crisis is a global challenge that affects every citizen. We must work together, both locally and globally, to safeguard biodiversity, combat climate change, and secure a sustainable future. The path ahead is long, but COP16 has demonstrated that international collaboration is not only possible but necessary.

COP16 as a catalyst for change

The COP16 on biodiversity served as an essential platform for addressing the challenges and opportunities in biodiversity conservation. While some progress has been made, significant obstacles remain due to the lack of clear funding agreements and binding mechanisms. The future of our planet’s biodiversity hinges on our ability to collaborate, innovate, and commit to protecting the ecosystems and species that sustain it. Only through collective and concerted efforts can we hope to overcome the challenges ahead and ensure a healthy and vibrant planet for future generations.

Nature in Mind, international conference in Rome

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Nature in Mind, an international conference promoted by the Italian Carabinieri brought together voices from all over the world and from every sector. From Pope Francis to the President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella, high-level interventions and networking. Wide presence of the WEEC network

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Deep-sea Atlas of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea

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The IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation (IUCN-Med) and the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research present the Deep-sea Atlas of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Funded by the MAVA Foundation,  the Atlas is the first collective work to compile the existing knowledge about the deepest waters of the Eastern Mediterranean, focusing on the “hidden” biodiversity that it hosts and main threats. The report covers five sub-regions: the Eastern Ionian, the North and South Aegean, the Libyan and the Levantine Sea.

This publication has contributions of more than 48 experts  and aims to become a useful tool to support spatial and natural resource planning efforts and to contribute to the sustainable development of blue economy.

By combining information from other reports, expeditions, data on deep-sea bycatch and experimental fishing catches, as well as underwater videos, this new publication provides a general overview of the morphological and geological features, as well as data on the existing biodiversity and habitats, in particular benthic and pelagic communities. Over 46 seamounts and banks ridges, as well as the major marine canyons have been identified and described in this document. These areas can play a key role as hotspots of biodiversity, greatly affecting the productivity of offshore ecosystems and the distribution of pelagic top predators. In addition, potential sites of Essential Fish Habitats for five deep-water commercially exploited species have been identified.

“Although human has been related to the marine environment since the first steps of its evolution, our knowledge on the deep sea is extremely limited, and although great strides have been made in the last decades, the information has been very fragmented and covering just small snapshots” explains Chryssi Mytilineou, researcher of the Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters of the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research. “The Atlas is the first step in concentrating our knowledge and identifying areas in the Eastern Mediterranean that we may need to protect”.

This report presents a first assessment of our knowledge about the vulnerable deep-sea ecosystems and has allowed to identify signs of high benthic biodiversity and other potential sites of conservation interest, that could require the establishment of binding protection areas or other effective conservation management measures.

“In the Eastern Mediterranean, enforcing the existing network of Marine Protected Areas requires increasing their coherence, connectivity and representativeness”, explains María del Mar Otero, Marine Biodiversity and Blue Economy manager at IUCN-Med. “Further designation of MPAs and Fishery Restricted Areas will be key to protect these vulnerable biodiversity hotspots, together with other measures to protect migratory and endangered fauna at open sea”.

The report also provided specific recommendations of potential measures to address some of the more pressing human activities that are presently or potentially impacting the vulnerable deep-sea ecosystems of the Eastern Mediterranean. Among these pressures are the significant concentrations of macroplastics identified in deep-sea areas, particularly near highly urbanised gulfs and submarine canyons.

Access to the publication here

Nature in Mind: the value of biodiversity

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“By Leaves We Live”
“This is a green world, with animals comparatively few and small, and all dependent on
the leaves. By leaves we live. Some people have strange ideas that they live by money.
They think energy is generated by the circulation of coins. Whereas the world is mainly a
vast leaf colony, growing on and forming a leafy soil, not a mere mineral mass: and we
live not by the jingling of our coins, but by the fullness of our harvests.”
(Sir Patrick Geddes, 1854-1932)

On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Convention for Biological Diversity, signed on May 22 nd, 1992 in Rio de Janeiro,  Italian environmental police force, in collaboration with WEEC Network,  wants to celebrate, with a 2-day International Conference – Nature in mind – the value of biodiversity in the name of a greener and more sustainable future. 

International Day for Biological Diversity is the occasion to reflect on our responsibilities towards the environment and to consider the possibility of creating a new culture of nature.
The scientific comprehension of natural processes and the new awareness about the importance of the compliance of our behaviours with the law are two equally important and strictly integrated elements which aim at the conservation of nature.

Environmental education thus becomes education to environmental “legality”: a set of knowledge that becomes “culture”, environmental culture, that has to represent the fundamental part of the most deeply rooted education of citizenship, necessary to build a better future for the next generations.

The Conference Nature in Mind, which will be held in a mixed form (in person and remotely), will address various topics thanks to the interventions of distinguished Italian and international speakers
following the ideal path of seven Sessions:

  1. Opening Session
  2. One Health – Nature and Well-being
  3. At the Nature School
  4. Education and Nature
  5. School, city, territory
  6. Education, infosphere, mass culture and Nature
  7. Voices from the world

For the registration, have a look here.

 

Mediterranean Solutions at IUCN Congress

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Under the leadership of the MAVA foundation, the organisations ACCOBAMS, Conservatoire du Littoral, Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation, MedPAN, MedWet, The MedFund, Tour du Valat, UNEP/MAP-SPA/RAC, UNEP/MAP-Plan Bleu and WWF Mediterranean gather at the IUCN Congress to present the current challenges, accomplishments, new initiatives and collaborative work which are taking place in the Mediterranean region.

Each of these organisations harnesses different skills, operational structures and approaches. However, they all share the same goal: to kickstart a nature-based recovery across the Mediterranean, and get on course for a sustainable, equitable future that balances economic growth and the health of the natural world.

Two seminal reports published in 2020, The State of the Environment and Development (SoED) report, and the First Mediterranean Assessment Report (MAR 1) on climate and environmental change in the Mediterranean basin, shed light on the impacts of the triple crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution on the Mediterranean.

During the 6 days, the sessions at the Mediterranean stand explore solutions to the key environmental issues in the region, including Nature-based solutions, inclusive processes to support inclusivity and effective and equitable governance, as well as an analysis of the current funding landscape.

This is the first hybrid IUCN Congress in-person and virtual environmental event since the pandemic began, the Mediterranean stand will provide streaming service for most of the live events scheduled by this innovative collaboration.

ALL EVENTS  WILL BE LIVE-STREAMED through this link:
https://virtualmeeting.leni.fr/UICN21/A28/indexSuite.php

For further details read here

or IUCN World Conservation Congress website

Download the brochure here

For further enquiries, please contact Arantxa Cendoya at arantxa.cendoya@iucn.org

MedArtSal, sustainable management of artisanal salinas in the Mediterranean

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Ready, set, go! MedArtSal kick is a project to promote sustainable management of artisanal salinas in the Mediterranean. The eight partners of the project MedArtSal – sustainable management model for Mediterranean Artisanal Salinas are gathering in Rome, on 18 January, for the kick off meeting of this initiative funded by the European Programme ENI CBC MED 2014-2020 with a total budget of € 3.2 million and an EU contribution of € 2.9 million (90%).
Artisanal salinas across the Mediterranean are today facing many pressures due to profound socio- economic changes that have affected productive activities. The MedArtSal project that is being launched in Rome, aims to promote the multifunctional use of the artisanal salinas to diversify socioeconomic activity generating revenues in terms of good quality salt production, but also by obtaining other products that can be commercialized, or by exploring their potential for tourism, while respecting the natural values of the sites. The project will address common challenges for artisanal salinas in four Mediterranean countries (Italy, Spain, Lebanon and Tunisia), with 10 pilot actions for the development of new products/services in selected salinas and 2 demonstration projects on the diversification of salinas products (i.e. food and cosmetics) and services (i.e. HO.RE.CA) carried out in La Esperanza, Cádiz (Spain) and Sidi Al-Hani (Tunisia).
«Investing in artisanal salinas means preserving our cultural heritage and landscape, local development and biodiversity. The final aim is to develop a sustainable and adaptable management model fostering the territorial valorisation of artisanal salinas in the Mediterranean region» says Gaetano Zarlenga, General Manager at University Consortium for Industrial and Managerial Economics, (CUEIM), Italy. The main beneficiaries of this project will be artisanal salinas and salt producers, small and medium enterprises around these sites and local communities from the Mediterranean region.
The project has a duration of 3 years and is led by CUEIM – University Consortium for Industrial and Managerial Economics (Italy) and involves the following partners: Association for the Development of Rural Capacities (Lebanon), Fair Trade Lebanon (Lebanon), IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation (Spain), Mediterranean Sea and Coast Foundation (Italy), Saida Society (Tunisia), University of Cádiz (Spain), and Tuniso-Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Tunisia).
Contacts
Lourdes Lázaro, IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation (Lourdes.lazaro@iucn.org)

International Secretariat

Via del Carmine, 15
10122 Torino – Italy
tel.+39 0114366522
secretariat@weecnetwork.org

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