Environment – France and the IUCN celebrate 20 years of partnership by signing a new framework agreement (July 11, 2025)

In 2025, the French government and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature
(IUCN) mark 20 years of joint action for nature and sustainable development.

The celebration of that anniversary on July 8 highlighted the achievements of a historic partnership that since 2005 has played a key role in protecting biodiversity at the global level. The occasion was marked by the signing of a new partnership agreement for 2026-2029, reflecting the two parties’ ongoing commitment to tackle climate and biodiversity challenges. This new partnership will expand global climate and environmental commitments ahead of the World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi (from October 9 to 15) and the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil (from November 10 to 21).

The signing ceremony was held in Paris. Those present included Thani Mohamed-Soilihi, Minister Delegate for Francophonie and International Partnerships; Barbara Pompili, Ambassador for the Environment; Bertrand Walckenaer, Deputy CEO of the French Development Agency (AFD); and Grethel Aguilar, Director General of the IUCN.
A network of government and civil society organizations, the IUCN has historically played a key role in preserving protected areas and threatened species. Since 2005, its partnership with France has contributed to large-scale conservation projects generating concrete results for global biodiversity, particularly in Africa and the Mediterranean basin. France and the IUCN spearheaded the development and international promotion of the Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions (NbS), which serves as a guide for public and private stakeholders seeking to ensure the effectiveness of actions to protect and restore natural or modified ecosystems. The Partnership has also worked on ocean conservation through projects in France’s overseas territories and by actively participating in negotiations of the UN Agreement on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ). It also prioritizes such crucial challenges to biodiversity as sustainable food and agricultural systems and the interface between science and politics.