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 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.

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 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 advancing responsible land-based investment (RLBI) governance through a comprehensive, multi-actor, and multi-pronged approach. Discussions centered on the ALIGN Technical Support Facility’s efforts to foster effective governance frameworks, emphasizing the importance of political economy considerations in navigating complex land governance contexts. Emerging pressures, such as climate change and the need for a just transition, were highlighted as key factors influencing land-based investment decisions.

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 application of Gender Transformative Approaches (GTAs) in securing tenure rights to promote sustainability, emphasizing the intersection of gender, land rights, and sustainable development. The session began with a keynote by Dr. Anne Larson, highlighting the importance of GTAs in land and resource tenure, laying the groundwork for understanding how gender-sensitive strategies can lead to more equitable and sustainable outcomes.

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 explored the intersection of Indigenous Peoples' and Local Communities' tenure rights, livelihoods, and conservation, emphasizing the importance of rights-based approaches (RBAs) in achieving sustainable development and conservation outcomes. The discussion began with a global review by CIFOR-ICRAF on the implementation of RBAs in development and climate action projects, identifying critical success factors and challenges, alongside a set of recommendations for improving project design and execution.

The session examined the integration of Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) strategies, emphasizing the importance of a holistic approach to enhance resilience in communities vulnerable to climate-related challenges such as floods and droughts. The discussion opened with welcoming remarks that set the stage for understanding the interconnected nature of CCA and DRR in the context of increasing climate variability.