The session explored the significant contributions of the Civil Society Platform (CSP) in promoting effective land policy implementation across Africa. The forum began with an overview of the CSP’s achievements, presented by the Chair, highlighting the platform’s role in advocating for inclusive and transparent land governance. The discussion centered on the experiences of various African countries in implementing the African Union's Land Policy Framework, based on recent evaluations conducted by CSP members.

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 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 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 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 explored strategies and tools for urban land management that are risk-informed, addressing challenges of uneven urban development, inadequate land tenure security, climate change, and disaster risks. Emphasizing the interplay between the natural and built environments, the discussion highlighted how effective land use planning can promote social inclusion, strengthen institutions, improve access to land, facilitate affordable housing, and mitigate risks from natural hazards.

The session examined the repurposing of brownfields as a strategic solution to support the global shift from coal to renewable energy, highlighting its importance in addressing land scarcity for sustainable development. The discussion emphasized the need for large land areas as the world transitions to renewable energy, contrasting this with the lower land requirements of traditional fossil fuels.

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.

The session examined the policy landscape necessary to secure land tenure in the context of land-intensive climate action, addressing the rising global demand for land driven by renewable energy projects and biological carbon removal commitments. The discussion acknowledged the historical impact of large-scale land acquisitions (LSLAs) in the Global South, which often resulted in adverse socioeconomic consequences and human rights violations, emphasizing the need to avoid similar pitfalls as land demands shift toward climate mitigation efforts.

The session examined the critical role of land and property valuation in supporting sustainable urbanization, emphasizing its influence on economic development, wealth distribution, and social and environmental sustainability. Presentations highlighted how robust valuation infrastructure underpins property trading, mortgaging, property taxation, land acquisition, financial reporting, and urban planning.