2025 IUCN WCC
GCELS Students, Faculty and Alumni Advance Motions for IUCN WCC 2025
Since 2023, GCELS students, alums, and faculty, have been preparing for the 2025 IUCN World Conservation Congress, a unique international environmental policy-making forum held every four years where countries, NGOs, indigenous peoples organizations, sub-national governments, and other affiliated organizations working in the conservation field gather to debate and vote upon proposed policies for the largest global network of conservation-focused organizations – the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
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Over the course of 2 years and under the guidance of Professor Achinthi Vithanage, students taking Advanced International Environmental Law and subsequent Guided Research courses, researched and developed their own policy proposals (known as “motions”). They secured support for those motions among IUCN members, negotiated them during online discussions, and ran advocacy campaigns to raise awareness of the issues discussed in the motions. Even after graduation from Pace Haub Law, alums continued their advocacy and involvement, staying on as GCELS Staff Interns.
The IUCN Congress is now around the corner and students, alums, and faculty are negotiating further revisions to Motions in Contact Groups, crafting new and urgent Motions, and continuing their advocacy and awareness-raising in advance of the Congress.
A cohort of 4 faculty members, 5 students, and 6 alums will be on the ground in Abu Dhabi, UAE from October 8–October 16, 2025. Follow their work on GCELS LinkedIn, GCELS X, or Pace | Haub Environmental Law Instagram.
GCELS Motions Going to Congress
Motion #033 on Port State Measures for 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. GCELS Contacts: Morgan Martin and Justyna Maksimiuk
Read Motion #033Read the PELR Blog
Motion #94 Recognizing the importance of Indigenous [and local] languages, knowledge and cultural heritage in biodiversity conservation
This motion 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. GCELS Contact: Isabella Mazzei
Read Motion #94Read the PELR Blog
New and Urgent Motion on ICJ AO
This urgent motion is being proposed in response to the recent Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ AO). The motion seeks to endorse the AO and presses for serious action on climate change with respect to achieving conservation. GCELS Contact: Prof. Nicholas Robinson
Motion Text: Forthcoming
PELR Blog: Forthcoming
GCELS Motions Going to E-Vote
Motion #005 on Protection and restoration of diverse native grasslands
GCELS Contacts: Prof. Nicholas Robinson, Samuel Carvalho
Read Motions #005Read the PELR Blog
Motion #051 on Mainstreaming gender equality in biodiversity policies, programmes, actions and funding
GCELS Contact: Juliette Planes
Read Motion #051Read the PELR Blog
Motion #098 on Advancing the One Health approach for biodiversity, health and global cooperation; and
Motion #099 on Implementation of the One Health approach, from global to local
GCELS Contacts: Lara O’Callaghan and Victoria Sawchuk
Read Motion #098 and #099Read the PELR Blog
Motion #132 on Strengthening Business Engagement In Climate Adaptation For Preservation Of Biodiversity And Ecosystems
GCELS Contact: Maria Lambert
Read Motion #132Read the PELR Blog
Other Motions that GCELS Faculty & Students have been involved in
Motion #007 on Soil Security Law
This motion was prepared by WCEL’s specialist group on Soil and Sustainable Agriculture Law (SoilSAL), [AV1] and GCELS was the main proponent of the motion. The motion seeks 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.
GCELS Contacts: Prof. Achinthi Vithanage, Madison Routledge-Pettus
Stage: This motion is going to Congress for a vote
PELR Blog: Forthcoming
Motion on Promoting the conservation and restoration of Latin American mangrove ecosystems through the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) mechanism
GCELS Contact: Samuel Carvalho
Stage: This motion did not proceed to an e-vote
Motion on Halting the chemical pollution by textile industries in the water bodies of Southern and South-eastern Asia
GCELS Contact: Severine Ginot
Stage: This motion did not proceed to an e-vote
PELR Blog: Forthcoming
Motion on Strengthening Mechanisms for Public Participation in Environmental Policymaking
GCELS Contact: Harrison Bench
Stage: This motion did not proceed to an e-vote