The session explored the intersection of climate finance, community rights, and gender equality, addressing the current state and future potential of financial mechanisms supporting Indigenous, Afro-descendant, and local communities, particularly women’s groups. A comprehensive overview of the global climate finance landscape set the stage for a roundtable discussion, where experts delved into pressing issues regarding tenure rights and equitable access to climate funding.

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 focused on promoting transparent and accountable land governance as a crucial aspect of ensuring a just transition in climate action, drawing on diverse case studies from Kenya, Brazil, and Sierra Leone. Central themes included the intersection of anti-corruption efforts, human rights, and land governance. A detailed examination of Brazil highlighted strategies for combating corruption linked to land use and deforestation, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between land governance and anti-corruption stakeholders.

The session addressed the critical importance of securing land rights to achieve a just transition toward a sustainable and carbon-neutral future, focusing on the intersection of climate action and land tenure security. It began with an exploration of the implications of net-zero climate pledges, particularly regarding land-based Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) strategies. The presentation of the Climate-Forests-Land Rights Atlas underscored the complexities of balancing environmental goals with local land rights.

The session focused on the tensions between rapid land transitions required for global climate commitments and the need for equitable, just land administration, particularly in the context of the Paris Agreement. The discussion highlighted the complexities of managing large-scale land shifts, recognizing that such transitions often generate negative consequences for vulnerable populations, especially those without formal land rights or facing intersecting social marginalizations.

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 brought together diverse operational experiences from the MNA region, focusing on urban and land management challenges and advancements. Key presentations included Egypt’s strategies for urban and land management, highlighting the country’s approach to navigating complex urban environments. Djibouti shared its progress in building a comprehensive land administration system, particularly addressing the challenges of informal settlements in urban areas.

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 focused on the transformative potential of land administration standards in advancing social, environmental, and economic objectives. It began with a discussion of the Land Administration Domain Model (LADM) and the Social Tenure Domain Model (STDM), showcasing their importance in the global land agenda. These models aim to provide standardized frameworks that address both formal and informal land tenure systems worldwide. The session highlighted the need for a multi-stakeholder dialogue to refine these models further and ensure their relevance to diverse contexts.

The session emphasized the urgent need to secure forest tenure as a means of safeguarding both Indigenous Peoples' (IPs) and Local Communities' (LCs) rights and the global environment. With approximately 3.3 billion individuals living within close proximity to forests, the issue of formal land rights for IPs and LCs—who customarily manage around 50% of the world's land—has become critical. Despite their vital stewardship role, only 10% of these lands are formally recognized, often due to overlapping claims with state-designated conservation areas.

The session focused on ensuring that the transition to a greener economy is fair and equitable for landholders, particularly Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and other marginalized communities. The discussion centered on the growing demand for land driven by the expansion of renewable energy and the extraction of transition minerals, highlighting the risks these pressures pose to traditional land rights and livelihoods.

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.