The session highlighted the importance of integrating land tenure into sustainable land management as a means to achieve effective land restoration and land degradation neutrality (LDN). Participants emphasized that secure land tenure is fundamental to encouraging land users to invest in sustainable practices, as it provides them with the assurance of benefiting from the returns on their efforts.

The Global Land Governance and Policy Forum brought together a diverse coalition of international stakeholders to address the pressing challenges of tenure security and land governance. This inaugural high-level event, organized at the World Bank Land Conference, aimed to amplify global efforts under the informal campaign of the ‘Global Land Agenda,’ which advocates for formal structures to support a more coordinated approach to land governance.

The session explored the intersection of climate-smart land use planning with gender-equitable and socially inclusive land rights, drawing on diverse case studies and expert insights. Presentations focused on how sustainable land management can be advanced alongside efforts to ensure equitable access to land for marginalized communities, particularly women. A case study from Liberia illustrated the integration of sustainable land use practices during community formalization, showcasing how structured planning can support both environmental goals and secure land tenure.

The session examined the role of tenure-responsive land use planning (LUP) as a critical tool for enhancing climate resilience, using a roundtable format to facilitate diverse perspectives from various stakeholders and countries. The discussion opened with an overview of the connections between cross-border LUP and climate resilience, emphasizing the need for coordinated planning to address the transboundary nature of climate challenges. A key focus was on public participation, exploring how to make local involvement substantive rather than symbolic.

The session focused on the role of digital transformation in land administration to enhance disaster response, recovery, and resilience in island nation states, emphasizing the growing importance of technology in managing climate challenges. The moderated roundtable discussion began with an exploration of the initial challenges that prompted governments to adopt digital solutions in land administration, including the motivation to modernize outdated systems and improve efficiency in the face of increasing climate threats.

The event highlighted the critical role of community land tenure in achieving effective climate mitigation. Through an initial presentation, the link between secure land rights and successful climate action was established, emphasizing how tenure rights can act as a catalyst for community-driven carbon and mitigation initiatives. A roundtable discussion followed, engaging a diverse panel of experts from various global institutions.

The session highlighted the intersection of climate justice and land rights, focusing on the transformative potential of a women-led social contract to address the unique challenges faced by marginalized communities, particularly women and girls. Climate change continues to exacerbate land insecurity, disproportionately affecting women, who are estimated to constitute 80% of those displaced by climate impacts.

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 joint East Asia Pacific (EAP) and South Asia (SAR) Regional Workshop highlighted the importance of strengthening land tenure to achieve a sustainable and inclusive future. The event was part of the broader theme “Breaking Barriers: Access to Land and Poverty Reduction and Climate Resilience,” focusing on regional experiences and innovations in land management.