Youth

The seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP17) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) convened in the morning in Johannesburg, South Africa. South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma opened CoP17 and stated his country is taking action to address the illegal trade of wildlife as called for by the UN General Assembly and UN Environment Assembly. He stressed the importance of wildlife conservation to sustaining local communities and economic development through hunting and ecotourism. John Scanlon, CITES Secretary-General, welcomed Angola, Iraq, EU, Tajikistan and Tonga as new parties to CITES. In the afternoon, participants began tackling the long agenda, starting with the Rules of Procedure. Given ongoing disagreements, the CoP17 Chair proposed, and the CoP agreed, to establish an overnight working group to resolve the voting rights of a regional economic integration organization (REIO), and report back to Plenary on Sunday. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, has provided daily web coverage, daily reports and a summary and analysis report in English and French from CITES CoP17. The summary and analysis report is now available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Opening Ceremony Traditional drummers welcome delegates to the meeting Edna Molewa, Minister of Environmental Affairs, South Africa Jacob Zuma, President of South Africa Erik Solheim, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director Øystein Størkersen, Chair, Standing Committee John Scanlon, Secretary-General, CITES South African dancers perform at the opening ceremony, welcoming delegates to the meeting Afternoon Plenary View of the dais during the afternoon session Øystein Størkersen, Chair, Standing Committee CoP Chair Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, South Africa Vladimir Ivlev, Russian Federation Zhihua Zhou, China Mauricio Escanero, Mexico Daniel Ashe, Director, US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Daniel Calleja, Director-General for the Environment, EU Edis Solórzano, Venezuela Simon Nemtzov, Israel Gerhard Adams, Germany Adrianne Sinclair, Acting Chair, CITES Plants Committee Carolina Caceres, Chairman, CITES Animals Committee Melanie Virtue, Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) Mathias Lörtscher, Switzerland Elizabeth Mrema, UNEP Martha Nomaele, Youth Delegate, South Africa Megan Reed, Youth Delegate, US Derek Hanekom, Minister of Tourism, South Africa Delegates during the session Civil Society Demonstration Members of civil society demonstrate outside the Sandton Convention Centre before the start of the meeting Around the Venue Delegates gather for the opening ceremony Delegates meet informally Elizabeth Mrema, UNEP, speaks with delegates Daniel Ashe (R), Director, USFWS, speaks with delegates Edna Molewa, Minister of Environmental Affairs, South Africa, speaks with the media Erik Solheim, UNEP Executive Director, speaks with the media Around the exhibition space

The High-Level Event on “Leaving No One Behind: Energy for Humanitarian Response and Sustainable Development” took place on Sunday, 18 September 2016 at UN Headquarters in New York, US. Hosted by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the event convened on the eve of the UN Summit on Refugees and Migrants, and on the margins of the 71st UN General Assembly. The event explored how sustainable energy, the subject of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7, can improve conditions for people affected by humanitarian crises while building long-term resilience. Participants discussed how lack of energy affects the lives of displaced people, preventing children from studying, women from safely going outside after dark, and families from cooking without polluting their living spaces. Meanwhile, humanitarian agencies spend their scarce resources inefficiently by relying on diesel generators for electricity in camps. The aim of the event was to spotlight these connections ahead of the Summit on Refugees and Migrants, which convened on 19 September. The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, the IKEA Foundation, the Moving Energy Initiative, Schneider Electric, and UN-Energy were partners in the high-level event. More >> IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, has provded a briefing note from the High-Level Event on “Leaving No One Behind: Energy for Humanitarian Response and Sustainable Development”, which is available in HTML and PDF. Kelly Clements, Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees Moustapha Naite, Guinea’s Minister of Youth and Youth Employment Per Heggenes, IKEA Foundation Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Radha Muthiah, CEO of the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves Mogens Lykketoft, President of the 70th session of the UN General Assembly and Co-Chair of the UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants Pictures courtesy of the UN

The 1st Sitting of the Members' Assembly of the IUCN convened on Tuesday morning, with IUCN President Zhang Xinsheng calling on members to look for “convergence of interests and to find solutions.” Throughout the morning, delegates considered: the appointment and first report of the Congress Credentials Committee, adoption of the agenda; appointment of the Resolutions, Finance, and Programme Committees of the Congress; the reports of the Director General and Council; and the first report of the Resolutions Committee. In the afternoon, during the 2nd Sitting of the Members’ Assembly, the IUCN presented information about the purpose and process of the Hawai‘i Commitments; and presented the Draft IUCN Programme 2017-2020, and the Financial Plan 2017-2020. Director General Inger Anderson introduced IUCN's three strategic themes of agriculture and biodiversity, oceans and islands, and building constituencies. The meeting then discussed, through a series of panel sessions, how the IUCN should address the challenges of: conserving nature in the face of industrial agriculture; and preserving the health of the world’s oceans. In the evening, delegates attended an award ceremony, which included the presentation of the laureates of the John C. Phillips Memorial Medal and the Harold Jefferson Coolidge Memorial Medal, and approval of the laureates for Honorary Membership of IUCN. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, has produced daily reports, daily web coverage, summary videos from the Forum and the Members Assembly, as well as a summary report from the IUCN Congress 2016, which is available in HTML and PDF format. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Members' Assembly: Morning Session View of the dais at the start of the Members' Assembly A traditional Hawaiian blessing is presented to open the Assembly Zhang Xinsheng, President, IUCN Inger Andersen, IUCN Director General George Greene, Chair of the Council Governance Committee, IUCN Luc De Wever, Governance Officer, IUCN Aroha Mead, Chair of the Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy (CEESP), IUCN Delegates vote to adopt the agenda and program of work Hasna Jasimuddin Moudud, Bangladesh National Committee of IUCN Javed Jabbar, Baanhn Beli, Pakistan Nicholas Robinson, International Council of Environmental Law (ICEL) Richard Cellarius, Sierra Club Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, Unnayan Onneshan John Robinson, Councillor for North America and Vice President, IUCN Simon Stuart, IUCN Species Survival Commission Malik Amin Aslam Khan, Vice-President, IUCN Miguel Pellerano, Regional Councillor for Meso and South America, IUCN Marina von Weissenberg, Regional Councillor for West Europe, IUCN Members' Assembly: Afternoon Session View of the dais during the afternoon session Cyriaque Sendashonga, Global Director of the IUCN Policy and Programme Group Inger Andersen, IUCN Director General Michael Davis, Chief Financial Officer, IUCN Tamar Pataridze, Regional Councillor for Eastern Europe, North and Central Asia, IUCN Panel speakers discussing how the IUCN should address the challenge of conserving nature in the face of industrial agriculture Ruth Richardson, Executive Director, Global Alliance for the Future of Food, Canada Alexander Müller, The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) for Agriculture and Food, and German Council for Sustainable Development (RNE) Jason Clay, Senior Vice President of Market Transformation, WWF Jeffrey Sachs, Director, The Earth Institute, Columbia University Panelists discussing how the IUCN should address the challenge of preserving the health of the world’s oceans Pierre-Yves Cousteau, Cousteau Divers Birguy Lamizana-Diallo, UN Environment Programme Jeroen Dagevos, Plastic Soup Foundation Awards Ceremony Zhang Xinsheng, President, IUCN, opens the award ceremony Maria Teresa Jorge Pádua, Brazil, is awarded the John C. Phillips Memorial Medal Lee Talbot, US, is awared the Harold Jefferson Coolidge Memorial Medal Ashok Khosla, India, received the Honorary Membership of IUCN Awards Skumsa Mancotya, Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa, receives the Honorary Membership of IUCN Awards on behalf of Valli Moosa, South Africa Student's Day: Hawaiʻi Youth Challenge 2020 Almost 900 young people attend the student's day to learn about the importance of conservation Students listen to various presentations throughout the day The US Fish and Wildlife Services bring magic back into conservation by performing nature-related magic tricks for students Students participate in a variety of activities throughout the day Around the Venue Delegates speak informally Delegates take photos during the traditional presentation

On Sunday, participants attended the Forum for the third day, engaging with a variety of conservation issues, including an update on the IUCN’s Red List, managing ecosystems to reduce risks to disasters, managing conflicts between business and civil society over the use of natural resources, discovering the ways in which indigenous values and health indicators are helping management of invasive species, and finding nature-based solutions for sustainable development. In the afternoon, during a high-level event on actions required for a sustainable ocean, two panels discussed potential ways to address management of oceans, such as legislation, research and monitoring, and combatting pollution and illegal fishing. Other afternoon events included a launch of guidelines on climate change best practices, the place of the law in the future of conservation, how to manage transboundary ecosystems through experiences in “hydro-diplomacy” and governance of shared waters, and ways of transforming Africa’s development through Chinese investments. In the evening participants attended events on gender-responsive financing for the global environment and the IUCN Green List that aims to raise the standard for new generation of protected and conserved areas. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, has produced daily reports, daily web coverage, summary videos from the Forum and the Members Assembly, as well as a summary report from the IUCN Congress 2016, which is available in HTML and PDF format. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth and Diego Noguera For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Nature Protects Us: Managing Ecosystems for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Participants during the session Fabiola Monty, IUCN Camille Buyck, IUCN Glenn Dolcemascolo, US Office for Disaster Risk Reduction Shalini Dhyani, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI) Ahmed Senhoury, IUCN Naoya Furuta, IUCN Simone Sandholz, UN University Wolfram Lange, IUCN Udo Nehren, University of Applied Science Cologne Karen Sudmeier-Rieux, IUCN Managing Conflicts Between Businesses and Civil Society Over the Use of Natural Resources Participants during the session Giulia Carbone, IUCN Jennifer Clare Mohamed-Katerere, IUCN CEESP Steering Committee Myrna Semaan, Friends of Nature Kem Lowry, University of Hawai'i Nigel Crawhall, IUCN Nature-Based Solutions for Sustainable Development Panel speakers for the session Braulio Dias, Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Executive Secretary Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Stewart Maginnis, Global Director, Nature-based Solutions Group, IUCN Andrew Steer, President, the World Resources Institute (WRI) Jesca Osuna Eriyo, Deputy Secretary General, East African Community (EAC) Paul Mafabi, Ministry of Water and Environment, Uganda Panel speakers during the session Julia Bucknall, Director for Environment and Natural Resources, the World Bank Emad Adly, the Arab Office for Youth and Environment Paul Trianosky, Chief Conservation Officer, Sustainable Forestry Initiative Lynda Mansson, Director General, the MAVA Foundation Ashok Khosla, Development Alternatives Group Indigenous peoples’ Cultural Connections to Forests: How Indigenous Values and Health Indicators are Helping Manage Invasive Species Participants during the session Judy Fisher, IUCN Lori Buchanan, Molokai/Maui Invasive Species Committee, US Danielle Flakelar, New South Wales Office of Environment and Heritage, Australia Desmond Purcell, Gidarjil Development Corporation, Australia Participants engage in an interactive session Launch: Climate Change Best Practice Guidelines The Guidance for Protected Area Managers and Planners Adapting to Climate Change was launched during the event Leigh Welling, World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) Kathleen MacKinnon IUCN/WCPA Jonathan Jarvis, Director, National Park Service Actions for a Sustainable Ocean Inger Andersen, Director General, IUCN, welcomes panelists to the session Aulani Wilhelm, Founder, Island Water Kamana‘opono Crabbe, CEO, Office of Hawaiian Affairs Sylvia Earle, Founder, Mission Blue, and Oceanographer Kathryn Sullivan, Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Catherine Novelli, Under Secretary of State, Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, US Sandra Bessudo, Founder, Fundación Malpelo Braulio Dias, CBD Executive Secretary Anote Tong, Former President of the Republic of Kiribati Humberto Delgado Rosa, European Commission Nainoa Thompson, President, Polynesian Voyaging Society Africa Transforming Panel speakers of the event Matt Jones, UN Environment Pogramme (UNEP)-World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC) Lori Anna Conzo, International Finance Corporation (IFC) Helga Rainer, Arcus Foundation Daudi Sumba, African Wildlife Foundation Participants asking questions during the event How Will Chinese Investments Transform Africa’s Development? Panel speakers of the event Nan Li, WWF China Yan Zhang, IUCN China Jeff Sawyer, Cairns University Leonard Usongo, IUCN Leave No One Behind: Conservation, Rights and Sustainable Development L-R: Sanjay Kabir Bavikatte, The Christensen Fund; Rosemary Ahtuangaruak, Inupiaq people of Alaska, US; Martha Rojas-Urrego, Secretary-General, Ramsar Convention; John Knox, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment; Ashok Khosla, Chairman, Development Alternatives Group; Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; and Marco Lambertini, CEO, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) International John Knox, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Marco Lambertini, CEO, WWF International Martha Rojas-Urrego, Secretary-General, Ramsar Convention Sanjay Kabir Bavikatte, The Christensen Fund Rosemary Ahtuangaruak, Inupiaq people of Alaska, US Forests: Today and Tomorrow US Forest Service employees take part in a chat show style session (L-R): US Forest Service employees John Crockett; Flint Hughes; Jeanne Wade-Evans; Fabian Garcia; Nadia Tase; and Heather McMillen Jeanne Wade-Evans, US Forest Service John Crockett, US Forest Service Gender-Responsive Financing for the Global Environment Panel speakers during the event Lorena Aguilar, IUCN Herbert Acquay, the World Bank Anne Kuriakose, Climate Investment Fund Amy Fraenkel, CBD Yoko Watanabe, the GEF Press Conference: Red List Update Panel speakers during the session (L-R): Matthew Kier, Laukahi, the Hawaiian Plant Conservation Network; Carlo Rondinini, Sapienza University of Rome; Jane Smart, Global Director, IUCN Biodiversity Conservation Group and Director, IUCN's Global Species Programme; and Simon Stuart, Chair, IUCN Species Survival Commission The IUCN Green List - Raising the Standard for New Generation of Protected and Conserved Areas Masahito Yoshida, IUCN-WCPA Zhiyun Ouyang, Chinese Academy of Science Tamar Kvantaliani, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Georgia Trevor Sandwith, Director, Global Programme on Protected Areas, IUCN Panelists and Green List protected areas managers Around the Venue Kéita Aïda Mbo, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Mali, and Nesto Bassierie, Minister of Environment, Green Economy and Climate Change, Burkina Faso, during an interview Interviews conducted around the venue Participants meet informally throughout the day Participants around the venue Pins showing forests around the world

On Saturday, participants attended the second day of the Forum, during which they continued to explore solutions to some of the planet’s most pressing conservation and sustainability challenges. High-level events convened on empowering next generations, with panelists sharing new approaches to conservation of nature and integrated approaches to empowerment. In another high-level event, panelists addressed ending wildlife trafficking with perspectives from government as well as solutions from the private sector, civil society NGOs and CITES. Throughout the day, participants explored: achieving the conservation imperative for sustainable development; engaging Pacific youth as future environmental and cultural leaders; making pledges towards achieving the Bonn Challenge; incorporating climate adaptation into agency-level planning in the Pacific islands region; and the importance of gender equality for SDG implementation and conservation projects. In other events, panelists discussed: Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA); the Western Gray Whale Advisory Panel (WGWAP); effective Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EBA); new Bonn Challenge pledges; and solutions for a crowded planet in global commons. During the Heritage Heroes awards, Bibhuti Lahkar was announced as the winner for presented his work on the Manas Tiger Reserve and his efforts in the area of capacity building for local youth, NGOs, and ex-poachers. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, has produced daily reports, daily web coverage, summary videos from the Forum and the Members Assembly, as well as a summary report from the IUCN Congress 2016, which is available in HTML and PDF format. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth and Diego Noguera For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Bonn Challenege High-Level Dialogue 1: Restoration Leadership in Action Panel speakers during the session Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Zhang Xinsheng, President, IUCN Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, Germany José Pedro de Oliveira Costa, Secretary of Biodiversity and Forests, Ministry of Environment, Brazil Sydney Alexander Samuels Milson, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Guatemala Listen to Young Voices: Engaging Pacific Youth as Future Environmental and Cultural Leaders and Communicators through Creative Expression Panel speakers during the session Takiora Ingram, Pacific Writers' Connection Robert Pennybacker, PBS HIKI NŌ, and Hoku Subiono, HIKI NŌ graduate Joni Mae Makuakāne-Jarrell, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park Craig Santos Perez, English Department, University of Hawai‘i Kenneth Makuakāne, Musician Making Ecosystem-Based Adaptation Effective: Evidence from the Field to Improve Policy and Practice Participants during the workshop Ali Raza Rizvi, IUCN Shaun Martin, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Adam Whelchel, The Nature Conservancy Marta Perez de Madrid, IUCN Xiaoting Jones, International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) Participants engage in small group discussions The SDGs Journey: Achieving the Conservation Imperative for Sustainable Development L-R: Hugh Possingham, University of Queensland; Xavier Sticker, Ambassador for the Environment for France; Charles Barber, World Resources Institute (WRI); James Watson, Wildlife Conservation Society; Jeffrey Sachs, The Earth Institute; Celeste Conners, Hawai‘i Green Growth; and Nestor Batio Bassiere, Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Green Economy, Burkina Faso Celeste Conners, Hawai‘i Green Growth James Watson, Wildlife Conservation Society Presentations made during the session Charles Barber, WRI Nestor Batio Bassiere, Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Green Economy, Burkina Faso Leah Silverman graphically records the discussions Participants during the session Conservation 2.0: Empowering Next Generations Participants gather for the high-level session Inger Andersen, Director General, IUCN Paul Rose, National Geographic Society, and Alison Sudol, Goodwill Ambassador, IUCN Justin Bogardus, Independent Filmmaker Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Association for Indigenous Women and Peoples of Chad (AFPAT) Bruno Monteferri, Founder and Director, Conservamos por Naturaleza Jonathan Jarvis, Director, National Parks Service Anne Walton, International Marine Protected Area Management Capacity Building Program Rick Bates, CEO, Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) Jane Goodall, UN Messenger of Peace Everybody's Business: Ending Wildlife Trafficking Panel speakers during the session Patricia Zurita, CEO, BirdLife International Cristián Samper, President and CEO, Wildlife Conservation Society Jesca Eriyo, Deputy Secretary General, East African Community Marco Lambertini, Director General, WWF International Nyi Nyi Kyaw, Director General, Forest Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, Myanmar Catherine Novelli, Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, US John Scanlon, Secretary-General, CITES Incorporating Climate Adaptation into Agency-Level Planning in the Pacific Islands Region Christin Reynolds, Hawaiʻi Green Growth, addresses participants Chip Fletcher, University of Hawaiʻi, and Sam Lemmo, State of Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources Rick Camp, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, Zena Grecni, East-West Center Clay Trauernicht, University of Hawaiʻi Global Commons - Solutions for a Crowded Planet Panelists of the event Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson, the GEF Nebojsa Nakicenovic, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) Andrew Steer, President, World Resources Institute (WRI) Penny Langhammer, IUCN WCPA/SSC Joint Task Force on Biodiversity and Protected Areas Aroha Mead, IUCN The youngest delegate at the 2016 IUCN World Conservation Congress Heritage Heroes Awards Participants gather for the Heritage Heroes Awards Cyril Kormos, WILD Foundation Musicians perform at the awards ceremony Awards are presented to the Heritage Heroes (L-R): Julia Miranda Londoño, WCPA; Bibhuti Lahkar; Bantu Lukambo; and Yulia Naberezhnaya Press Conferences Throughout the Day Press conference on SEIC Agreement (L-R): Giulia Carbone, Panel Chair, IUCN; Doug Nowacek, Duke University; Wendy Elliott, WWF; Deric Quaile, Shell Global Solutions; Azzedine Downes, International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW); and Stewart Maginnnis, IUCN. Press conference on New Bonn Challenge Pledges - Passing the 100 Million Hectares Milestone (L-R): Stewart Maginnis, IUCN; Bianca Jagger, IUCN’s Global Ambassador for the Bonn Challenge, Clement Chilima, Forest Department, Malawi; and Martin Keller, Latin American Alliance of Private Nature Reserves, Guatemala Event celebrating partners in knowledge: Key Biodiversity Areas Partnership and the Red List Partnership Around the Venue L-R: Alison Sudol, Goodwill Ambassador, IUCN; Bruno Monteferri, Founder and Director, Conservamos por Naturaleza; Paul Rose, National Geographic Society; Jane Goodall, UN Messenger of Peace; Rick Bates, CEO, Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF); Jonathan Jarvis, Director, National Parks Service; Justin Bogardus, Independent Filmmaker; Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, AFPAT; Anne Walton, International Marine Protected Area Management Capacity Building Program Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, Germany, shakes hands with Zhang Xinsheng, President, IUCN Achim Steiner, Director, Oxford Martin School Participants meet informally throughout the day L-R: Aida Greenbury, Managing Director, Sustainability at Asia Pulp & Paper Group (APP) ; Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, Germany; Sydney Alexander Samuels Milson, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Guatemala; Marcelo Furtado, Executive Director, Arapyaú Institute; Rosa Lemos de Sá, CEO, Funbio; and José Pedro de Oliveira Costa, Secretary of Biodiversity and Forests, Ministry of Environment, Brazil Members of civil society demonstrate outside the venue

On Friday, the second day of the IUCN WCC, participants attended the first day of the Forum, during which they focused on exploring solutions to some of the planet’s most pressing conservation and sustainability challenges. During the opening ceremony, Prince Charles, via video, shared a Hawaiian proverb, “Pupukahi i holomua – we must unite to move forward.” Inger Andersen, IUCN Director General, said the IUCN’s role is to raise awareness about the planet being at a crossroads. Tom Friedman, the New York Times, highlighted that “later is officially over, we can remove it from the dictionary as later will now be too late.” Brooke Runnette, National Geographic Society, shared efforts to empower people and create a community of change. Hong Youngpyo, Republic of Korea, reviewed progress since the 2012 WCC, saying that “we can choose a path of co-existence or no existence at all.” In a high-level event on championing nature-based solutions, panelists discussed economic and security risks posed by climate change, the valuable role of ecosystems and biodiversity to combat climate change, and other co-benefits of protecting nature and empowering women. In another high-level event on leveraging private sector finance for public good, Naoko Ishii, the GEF CEO and Chairperson, said "the way to transform the economic system is to change the way the private sector sees the value of nature." Events continued into the evening, when IUCN and the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) launched "Protected Planet Report 2016." IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, has produced daily reports, daily web coverage, summary videos from the Forum and the Members Assembly, as well as a summary report from the IUCN Congress 2016, which is available in HTML and PDF format. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth and Diego Noguera For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Forum Opening Ceremony A Hawai‘ian Blessing Ceremony the opening of the Forum Welcome video from Prince Charles Alison Sudol, Goodwill Ambassador, IUCN Tom Friedman, Foreign Affairs Columnist, the New York Times Brooke Runnette, Executive Vice President, Chief Program and Impact Officer, National Geographic Society US President Barack Obama and Sylvia Earle, Oceanographer, during his visit to Hawai‘i prior to the start of the Congress Panelists applaud during the session Inger Andersen, Director General, IUCN Hong Youngpyo, Representative of the 2012 World Conservation Congress host, Republic of Korea Panel discussion entitled 'Move into Action: The ecosystems that underpin our economies, well-being and survival are collapsing' Sally Jewell, US Secretary of the Interior Peter Bakker, President and CEO, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) Irina Bokova, Director General, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Erik Solheim, Executive Director, UNEP Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Alejandro Del Mazo Maza, National Commissioner for Natural Protected Areas, Mexico Edward Osborne Wilson, University Research Professor Emeritus, Harvard University Climate Change: Championing Nature-Based Solutions Panel speakers during the session Inger Andersen, Director General, IUCN Moderator Tom Friedman, Foreign Affairs Columnist, the New York Times Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Prime Minister Enele Sosene Sopoaga, Tuvalu Xavier Sticker, Ambassador for the Environment, France Peter Seligmann, Chairman and CEO, Conservation International Martha Rojas-Urrego, Secretary General, Ramsar Convention on Wetlands Tom Butler, President and CEO, International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) Participants during the session Islands at Risk: Meeting the Global Challenge of Invasive Alien Species Panelists of the event Braulio Dias, Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Executive Secretary Kevin Smith, Invasive Species Programme Officer, IUCN Moderator Anna Tira‘a, IUCN Piero Genovesi, Chair, Invasive Species Specialist Group, IUCN A slide shown during the presentation Participants discuss matters in breakout groups A graphic recording of the proceedings done by Leah Silverman Youth participants during the session Private Finance for Public Good Panel speakers for the session Christy Goldfuss, Managing Director, White House Council on Environmental Quality Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson, the GEF Camilla Seth, Executive Director, Sustainable Finance, JPMorgan Chase Fabian Huwyler, Vice President, Global Sustainability Group, Credit Suisse Julia Bucknall, Director for Environment and Natural Resources, World Bank Dale Galvin, Managing Director of Sustainable Markets and Finance, Rare Terry Tamminen, CEO, Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation John Tobin, Cornell College of Business and Cornell Institute for Public Affairs, Cornell University Stephan Opitz, Director General for Policy and Latin American Region, KfW Development Bank Lynn Scarlett, Global Managing Director for Public Policy, the Nature Conservancy Members of the Coalition for Private Investment in Conservation, which was launched during the event The Road Ahead: Toyota and the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species - Driving Private Sector Engagement for Biodiversity Conservation Panelists during the session Jane Smart, Global Director, Biodiversity Conservation Group, IUCN Braulio Dias, CBD Executive Secretary Tom Stricker, Toyota Motor North America Judith Garber, US Department of State Hesiquio Benítez Díaz, Director General, International Cooperation and Implementation, CONABIO, Mexico Participants attend a reception in the evening Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) Consultative Forum: Exchanging Experience on Application of the KBA Standard at the National Level Panel speakers for the event Annabelle Cuttelod, KBA Project Coordinator Moderator Simon Stuart, Chair, IUCN Species Survival Commission Saw Htun, Wildlife Conservation Society, Myanmar Paul Matiku,Director, Nature Kenya Zoltan Waliczky, Birdlife International Olivier Langrand, Executive Director, Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) Mark Zimsky, the GEF Participants discuss KBA standards in breakout groups Natural Capital Protocol and Sector Guides Hawai‘i Launch Participants gather for the launch event Mark Gough, Natural Capital Coalition Holly Dublin, IUCN Peter Bakker, WBCSD Peter Seligmann, Chairman and CEO, Conservation International A participant writes the ingredients of the “cocktail” needed for getting the Protocol widely adopted Conservation Case - High Seas Participants engage on how to build coalitions and input into international processes David Freestone, Executive Secretary, Sargasso Sea Commission Carl Gustaf Lundin, IUCN David VanderZwaag, Dalhousie University, Canada Antonio Claparols, Ecological Society of the Philippines Marine Seismic Surveys: Management Guidelines Moderator Carl Gustaf Lundin, IUCN Douglas Nowacek, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University Participants during the event Ecosystems and Society in a Changing World: Experience, Exchange, and Learning about Ecosystem-Based Adaptation and Eco-Disaster Risk Reduction that Works! Paul Schumacher, Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Udo Nehren, University of Applied Sciences Cologne Jaruwan Enright, Mangrove Action Project Participants engage during the session L-R: Udo Nehren, University of Applied Science Cologne; Paul Schumacher, GIZ; Karen Sudmeier-Rieux, IUCN; Adam Whelchel, the Nature Conservancy; Shaun Martin, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Launch of IUCN/UNEP-WCMC Protected Planet 2016 Report Neville Ash, Director, UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) Nina Bhola, UNEP WCMC Marina Von Weissenberg, Ministerial Advisor, Finland Kathy MacKinnon, Chair, WCPA Norbert Bärlocher, Office of Environment, Switzerland Braulio Dias, CBD Executive Secretary Participants during the event Press Conferences Throughout the Day Press conference on elephant conservation initiatives Press Conference with Edward Osborne Wilson, University Research Professor Emeritus, Harvard University Around the Venue Delegates around the venue Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary, UNFCCC, speaks with Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga, Tuvalu Erik Solheim, Executive Director, UN Environment Programme (UNEP), being interviewed by Nicole de Paula and Hernán Aguilar, Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Jane Goodall, UN Messenger of Peace Meg Taylor, Secretary General to the Pacific Islands Forum, speaks with participants Exhibits on display throughout the venue With backgrounds painted by an elephant, this 'inter-species' art from the Rama Exhibition aims at raising awareness about the plight of endangered species

On Tuesday morning, two sessions of Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) took place at the 2016 meeting of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). In the afternoon, a special address by UN Secretary-General (UNSG) Ban Ki-moon was followed by another session of VNRs, and the general debate. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, has provided daily reports, daily web coverage and a summary and analysis from HLPF 2016, which is available in HTML and PDF format. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Voluntary National Reviews: Session 1 View of the dais during the first session on Voluntary National Reviews Sven Jürgenson, Permanent Representative of Estonia to the UN and Vice President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Francisco Guzmán Ortiz, Office of the President, Mexico Manuel Sager, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Switzerland Mohamed El Ouafa, Minister Delegate to the Head of Government, Morocco Milorad Šćepanović, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Montenegro Patrick Saidu Conteh, Minister of State II, Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Sierra Leone Sabine Döbeli, Swiss Sustainable Finance Sandra Andovska, National Focal Point for Sustainable Development, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Robert Glasser, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction Jelena Kneževič, Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism, Montenegro Rachel Kyte, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All) Voluntary National Reviews: Session 2 Panel speakers for the second session on Voluntary National Reviews Frederick Musiiwa Makamure Shava, Permanent Representative of Zimbabwe to the UN and Vice President of ECOSOC Martin Østerdal, Norwegian Children and Youth Council David Zalkaliani, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Georgia Herilanto Raveloharison, Minister of Economy and Planning, Madagascar Halit Çevik, Permanent Representative of Turkey to the UN Erna Solberg, Prime Minister of Norway Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, African Development Bank (AfDB) Dejan Bojanić, Major Group for Children and Youth, speaking on behalf of all Major Groups and other stakeholders Thoriq Ibrahim, Minister of Environment and Energy, Maldives Special address by the Secretary-General UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Voluntary National Reviews: Session 3 View of the dais for the third session on Voluntary National Reviews Kimmo Tiilikainen, Minister of Agriculture and the Environment, Finland Ana María Baiardi, Minister for Women, Paraguay Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, Germany Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director, UN Population Fund (UNFPA) Rilli Lappalainen, Finnish NGDO Platform to the EU, Kehys Matia Kasaija, Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Uganda Sili Epa Tuioti, Minister of Finance, Samoa Thomas Silberhorn, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany Morten Jespersen, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark Ansgar Klinger, German Education Union Marianne Beisheim, German Institute for International and Security Affairs General Debate View of the dais Wu Hongbo, Under Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs José Antonio Ocampo, Chair of the Committee for Development Policy (CDP) Lubomír Zaorálek, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Czech Republic Samatha Power, Permanent Representative of the US to the UN Li Baodong, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, China Abdul Sattar Murad, Minister of Economy, Afghanistan Boima Kamara, Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Liberia Sahar Nasr, Minister of International Cooperation, Egypt Rosalie Matondo, Minister of Forest  Economy, Sustainable Development and Environment, Republic of Congo Edgar Gutiérrez Espeleta, President, Second UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-2), and Minister for Environment and Energy, Costa Rica Mohammed Maziad Al Tuwaijri, Vice-Minister of Economy and Planning, Saudi Arabia Around the Venue Preparations being made for the morning plenary Delegates from Finland Delegates from Denmark Delegates speak informally Jade de Andrade, Federica Pietracci, and Irena Zubcevic, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) Delegates collect and share materials relating to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Delegates between sessions Around the UN Headquarters