The world’s top conservation body is holding its World Congress beginning on Thursday in the Emirati capital, Abu Dhabi, to unveil its updated “Red List” of threatened species.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the body that plays a critical role in setting the global agenda on environmental protection, will release its 2025 list on Friday.
The publication features a ranking of at-risk plant and animal species, ranging from “least concern” to “extinct”.
The Congress is being watched closely by the international community, as it allows nations to assess their biodiversity concerns and identify areas requiring immediate attention.
It also enables countries to review their contributions and achievements in protecting plant and animal species facing various threats.
This is one of the most significant events in global conservation, held once every four years. The assessment of species is based on rigorous research conducted across nations to provide a detailed understanding of the current situation, which in turn shapes future strategies.
According to recent research, an increasing number of animals are suffering from the destruction of their natural habitats, climate change, and water, air and soil pollution.
As per the UN experts’ scientific observation on biodiversity (IPBES), biodiversity has declined in every decade over the past 30 to 50 years.
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The last IUCN Congress was held in the French city of Marseille in 2021.
In an update to its “Red List” last year, the IUCN said that out of the 169,420 species studied, a total of 47,187 were classified as threatened — more than a quarter.
According to recent research, the most affected species are corals and amphibians, with more than 40 per cent of each group under threat.
IUCN Director General Grethel Aguilar of Costa Rica said the upcoming announcements “reflect the scale of ambition and the real possibility of delivering the solutions we need to build a planet where people and nature thrive together”.
A competing motion argues that synthetic biology could complement conservation efforts and says IUCN policy “should not be interpreted as supporting or opposing synthetic biology, per se”.
The organisers of the event expect more than 10,000 delegates and 5,000 civil society attendees. IUCN describes itself as a true representative of a multipolar world, focused on nature conservation beyond borders.
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