11 December 2025, Nairobi — On the margins of the seventh session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-7), high-level government representatives and IUCN gathered for a meeting of the ENACT Partnership, which works to accelerate collective global efforts to address climate change, land and ecosystem degradation, and biodiversity loss through Nature-based Solutions (NbS). The meeting marked an important moment for the expanding ENACT Partnership, providing an opportunity to welcome new partners, strengthen strategic alignment, and prepare for an ambitious 2026.

Photo: BMUKN/Stefanie Haslbeck

Left to right: Mr Ali Abo Sena, Egypt; H.E. Mr Batbaatar Bat, Mongolia; Ms Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, Germany; Dr Grethel Aguilar, IUCN; H.E. Mr Ole Thonke, Denmark

The meeting brought together ENACT Co-Chairs Germany and Egypt alongside newly joined government partners, including Denmark and Mongolia, as well as IUCN as Secretariat of the partnership. Representatives from each delegation reflected on ENACT’s trajectory since its launch in 2022 and its growing role as a global coordination platform for scaling up NbS across the Rio Conventions.

“As Secretariat of ENACT, IUCN stands ready to support the incoming COP Presidencies of Armenia and Mongolia, as well as all partners, through its expanded work programme next year — now entering a more advanced delivery phase thanks to the support of the co-chairs Germany and Egypt. IUCN also welcomes the leadership and commitment of Denmark in helping to implement this key initiative,” said Dr Grethel Aguilar, Director General of IUCN.

“In light of growing challenges, ENACT serves as a global coordination platform to accelerate implementation of NbS at scale. This helps close the persistent gap between ambition and action. I am very pleased that Germany continues to support ENACT, now with additional funding through the new International Climate Initiative project ‘Global NbS Navigator’,” said Ms Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, Parliamentary State Secretary, German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN).

“ENACT launching in COP27 translates our attention to promote NbS not merely at the national level, but also at the international level. ENACT has also deepened collaboration across climate, nature, and land agendas. Since its inception, ENACT has grown to include 27 state and non-state partners, and has delivered several important milestones in the advancement of NbS,” said Mr. Ali Abo Sena, Chief Executive Officer of Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency and Head of Delegation.

A platform entering a new phase of global influence

Over the past three years, ENACT has become a leading driver of policy coherence and collaboration among climate, biodiversity, and land agendas. Its growing membership also includes the incoming CBD COP Presidency, Armenia, which joined at IUCN’s World Conservation Congress in October this year. The partnership now comprises 27 state and non-state partners — further strengthening the collective elevation of NbS across global processes and developing a shared, evidence-based vision for implementation.

At COP30, ENACT further expanded its influence by engaging in the COP30 Presidency’s Global Action Agenda, and by releasing the new ENACT NbS Accelerator Pathways Report — a forward-looking guide to scaling NbS through coordinated political, financial, and technical action.

These achievements have set the foundation for a more strategic phase of ENACT’s work, particularly as new governments assume leadership roles within the Rio Conventions.

Supporting the incoming COP Presidencies

A central focus of the UNEA-7 meeting was on how the ENACT Partnership can best support Mongolia and Armenia, which will assume the presidencies of the UNCCD COP17 and CBD COP17, respectively, in 2026. Mongolia shared perspectives on strengthening the visibility and uptake of NbS within their upcoming COP agenda, including opportunities to advance climate-biodiversity synergies and ecosystem-based approaches through their national and international leadership.

Participants also discussed Denmark’s expected priorities as a new partner, including its focus on NbS-centred climate adaptation.

“The NbS approach is a strong focus in Denmark’s development cooperation strategy and we consider it key for a balanced social, economic and environmental development. Denmark is pleased to join the ENACT Partnership with 50 million DKK (approx. 6.7 million EUR) from 2025-2030 with a focus on integrating NbS in national plans, including NDCs and NAPs, in African countries,” said H.E. Mr Ole Thonke, Undersecretary for Development Policy and Climate Ambassador at Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The meeting highlighted the importance of ensuring that all incoming partners are fully integrated into ENACT’s coordinated programming for 2026.

Charting ENACT’s 2026 agenda

The open discussion centred on shared priorities for the coming year, with participants identifying opportunities for joint leadership on:
•    advancing measurable and science-based NbS implementation under the CBD, UNFCCC, and UNCCD;
•    strengthening policy coherence across the Rio Conventions;
•    scaling up capacity building and technical support for countries implementing NbS in the climate-nature nexus at the national level;

IUCN, serving as ENACT Secretariat, outlined upcoming activities for 2026, building on lessons from COP30 and on the momentum generated by the Accelerator Pathways Report. Plans include providing technical assistance to ENACT partners on NDC/NAPs implementation, enhanced coordination across partners, targeted knowledge products, and strengthened engagement in key global milestones leading up to both COP17 presidencies.

A collaborative path forward

The meeting closed with appreciation expressed to the new partners for joining the platform and to all delegations for their continued commitment to accelerating impactful, equitable, and science-based NbS for climate change.
 

The ENACT Partnership, co-led by the Governments of Egypt and Germany and coordinated by IUCN, is a global coalition of 27 governments, civil society, financiers, and technical partners working to accelerate NbS for climate, biodiversity, and land restoration. ENACT supports the COP28 Joint Statement on Climate, Nature and People and contributes directly to the COP30 Action Agenda by fostering collaboration, aligning finance, and scaling implementation of NbS worldwide.