Luxembourg Environment Minister at World Conservation Congress Says Aligning Economy & Ecology is 'Essential'

Luxembourg's Minister of the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity, Serge Wilmes, recently participated in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress, which is taking place in Abu Dhabi from Thursday 9 to Wednesday 15 October 2025.

In a press release, Luxembourg's Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity noted that the IUCN Congress takes place every four years and brings together ministers, researchers, businesses and NGOs from around the world. The 2025 edition addresses five central themes: scaling up resilient conservation actions, reducing the risks of climate overshoot, addressing equity issues, transitioning to nature-positive economies and societies, and innovation.

Minister Wilmes spoke at several events, including the high-level session "Nature-Positive Future: Turning Pledges into Investments", the presentation of the Blue Natural Capital Financing Facility (BNCFF) and the discussion on "Financing the Future: Unlocking Private Capital for a Thriving Planet" by Resilient Landscapes Luxembourg (RLL). He also attended a special high-level session "Nature's Promise for Climate and People: A Call and Commitment from the Conservation Community to Belém and Beyond", organised by IUCN President Razan Al Mubarak, and met with IUCN Director General Grethel Aguilar for a "constructive" bilateral exchange, which the ministry said further strengthened Luxembourg's relationship with the IUCN.

During the "Nature-Positive Future" plenary session, Minister Wilmes opened the discussions on the issue of how to transform commitments into concrete investments for a nature-friendly economy. "Aligning the economy and ecology is essential," he said. "To build a sustainable future for nature, we must transform our economic models, mobilise responsible financing and make nature a strategic priority - not an externality. Luxembourg is committed to showing that this transition is not only possible, but essential."

During an event organised by the BNCFF, Minister Wilmes officially launched Phase 3 of this project, which aims to develop nature-based solutions to restore and protect coastal ecosystems while generating sustainable economic returns. According to the ministry, this support enables the implementation of science-based and scalable solutions for climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation and the sustainable development of local communities.

Funded by Luxembourg's Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity, since 2018, the BNCFF has supported 21 high-impact projects, mobilised more than €17 million in additional financing and contributed to the protection of 2.6 million hectares of marine and coastal ecosystems.

The reported highlight of the mission to Abu Dhabi was the "Rio Changemakers" meeting, an innovative Luxembourg initiative that aims to connect projects, funds and investors. The ministry noted that "Rio Changemakers" will facilitate the financing and implementation of projects with a real impact on communities and the planet. About 30 stakeholders from the financial sector, national governments, civil society, international organisations and local initiatives responded to the call to action. This first meeting in Abu Dhabi reportedly provided an opportunity to exchange ideas, identify potential barriers and develop realistic solutions.

In his intervention at the "Financing the Future" discussion, Minister Wilmes highlighted the positive results and innovative nature of RLL, an initiative working in the field of nature-based solutions and incubating high-quality projects that are described as scientifically robust and financially viable.

The ministry added that Minister Wilmes and Gretha Aguilar welcomed the strong partnership between IUCN and Luxembourg's Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity during a bilateral meeting. The quality of the partnership is said to be reflected in Luxembourg's catalytic and continued support for strengthening financing for biodiversity and nature-based solutions, while benefiting from the depth of IUCN's work in these areas.

The ministry concluded that Luxembourg's global leadership in sustainable finance and its expertise in climate finance are a considerable asset for fostering more sustainable investments in natural capital.

(Pictured: Serge Wilmes, Luxembourg's Minister of the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity; Credit: MECB)