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 high-level Ministerial panel convened to discuss the future of land administration in Africa, focusing on how strategic investments can address the region's challenges, particularly those related to climate change and urbanization. Ministers of Land from across Sub-Saharan Africa engaged in an in-depth dialogue, examining the complexities of land management in the face of global and regional pressures. The session sought to explore the roles of the World Bank, development partners, civil society, and governments in fostering collaborative efforts for effective land administration.

The session underscored the critical role of women’s land rights (WLR) in achieving sustainable climate action, highlighting how secure rights to land, property, and natural resources for women underpin the objectives of the three Rio Conventions. The discussion emphasized the interconnectedness between WLR, effective climate action, land restoration, and biodiversity conservation, advocating for the stronger implementation of gender-equal land tenure rights.

The Africa Region Technical Workshop brought together a diverse group of stakeholders to discuss the progression from pilot projects to nationwide land registration across Sub-Saharan Africa. The workshop aimed to facilitate knowledge exchange, enhance South-South cooperation, and examine innovative approaches to scaling up land registration. Government representatives from various countries presented on key topics, including fit-for-purpose technologies, institutional frameworks, and the sustainability of land administration reforms.

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 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 session explored the crucial role of open and inclusive land governance data in advancing climate action and ensuring accountability within the framework of the Global Land Agenda. Experts from diverse international organizations emphasized the significance of comprehensive and accessible land data for informed decision-making in the context of the climate crisis.

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 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 the impact of regional land policy initiatives in advancing land reforms and governance. It showcased how efforts in Africa, the Arab states, and Europe have built upon each other's experiences to drive improvements in land governance. The African Land Policy Centre (ALPC), the Arab Land Initiative (LPI), and the Working Party on Land Governance (WPLA) presented key lessons learned, emphasizing their unique strengths and how they have maintained ties with broader regional and global frameworks.

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.