The Opening Session of the 2024 World Bank Land Conference explored the crucial link between land tenure, governance, and climate action. A keynote and multistakeholder panel underscored how effective land management supports climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts, highlighting its role in facilitating climate finance and promoting sustainable land practices. Discussions pointed to financial innovation, digital advancements, and global cooperation as key drivers enabling progress in managing the climate crisis.

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 centered on safeguarding tenure rights across land, forests, and fisheries, emphasizing their importance in ensuring equitable access to resources amid climate change. The discussion was anchored by an analysis of the Voluntary Guidelines on Land, Forests, and Fisheries Tenure, illustrating how a tenure-based approach can enhance resource access and resilience for vulnerable communities.