The session introduced the World Bank's Global Program on Access to Land for Climate Action and Infrastructure, aiming to address critical challenges related to land use in the context of climate change and sustainable development. The primary objective was to announce the launch of the Global Program, spotlight commitments from donors, and present insights from the 5-year Global Program on Land and Climate Change.

The session focused on the development of an open land information infrastructure in Africa, aiming to enhance tenure security and support climate action. Bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders—including civil society, government representatives, and academics—the roundtable explored the current state of land data in Africa, highlighting the legal and technical landscapes that shape access and transparency.

The session examined the intersection between women’s land rights and climate change, focusing on how secure land tenure for women contributes to a more sustainable and resilient planet. A framing presentation provided by Ruth Meinzen-Dick from IFPRI set the stage by highlighting the latest research on the impacts of climate change on women’s land rights, outlining both the challenges faced and the potential opportunities.

The joint East Asia Pacific (EAP) and South Asia (SAR) Regional Workshop served as a pioneering event focused on innovations in public land management to support green growth. The workshop, held under the theme “Breaking Barriers: Access to Land and Poverty Reduction and Climate Resilience,” aimed to explore regional and national efforts in leveraging land management for sustainable development.

The session examined the vital connection between land rights and intergenerational dynamics, focusing on the role of youth within Indigenous Peoples and local communities across Asia, Africa, and Latin America in climate action. Participants explored how limited access to land and resources, as well as restricted participation in agriculture, impacts young people's involvement in rural areas. These challenges have driven youth migration to urban centers and contributed to an aging rural population, threatening local agriculture, food security, and traditional climate practices.

The session examined innovative approaches to empower rural and Indigenous women through secure land rights, emphasizing the vital role of women in climate mitigation and adaptation. It highlighted the persistent barriers that women face in land ownership and control, which impact their economic security, adaptation capacity, and participation in decision-making processes related to land and climate.

The session focused on the critical role of inclusive and transparent land governance in fostering climate resilience, particularly in the context of Africa’s ongoing struggles with the impacts of climate change. Recognizing land as a foundational element for economic, environmental, and social stability, the discussion centered on the need for people-centered land governance and secure tenure to support community adaptation to climate challenges.