World Coastal Forum 2025 Conference

‘Beautiful Coasts: Ecological Priority and Green Development’

- 23–25 September 2025

- Yancheng City, Jiangsu Province, China

Coastal ecosystems are among the most important and threatened ecosystems across the globe, providing valuable ecosystem services including local livelihoods, biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation and adaptation. However, fragmented governance and insufficient global cooperation hinder their preservation and management. International resolutions/decisions by the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and IUCN have urgently called for a multistakeholder platform to address these challenges.

The World Coastal Forum (WCF), established in 2022, serves as a global platform to catalyze coastal conservation through evidence-based strategies, partnerships, and capacity building. Following the inaugural 2023 WCF Conference in Yancheng, China, the WCF has expanded its Partnership Initiative, initiated development of key knowledge products (State of the World’s Coastal Ecosystems Report, Conservation Toolkit), and gained further recognition from major international conventions.

The WCF 2025 Conference with the theme of "Beautiful Coasts: Ecological Priority and Green Development" is to be held in Yancheng, China, between 23–25 September 2025. It aims to strengthen global cooperation, share best practices, and advance sustainable coastal development, in line with Multilateral Environmental Agreements, IUCN and others. Discussions will emphasize ecological priorities, green transitions, and multilateral collaboration to improve management and restoration of coastal ecosystems.

Structure

The WCF 2025 Conference comprises Opening/Closing Ceremony, Parallel Forums, Special Activities, Side Events and Field Visits. Proposals must align with the following thematic streams:

a) Parallel Forums

Forum I: Coastal Ecosystem Conservation and Restoration

     o Focus: Biodiversity threats, nature-based solutions, technological innovations, and international cooperation.

Forum II: Sustainable Coastal Futures

     o Focus: Renewable energy, blue carbon, green finance, ecotourism, and equitable development.

Forum III: Global Dialogue on Coastal World Natural Heritage

     o Focus: Management strategies for UNESCO coastal World Heritage sites, regional collaboration, and sustainable practices.

b) Side Events/Workshops

Organized under two pillars:

• Pillar 1: Integrated Coastal Protection and Multilateral Cooperation

     o Topics: Transboundary governance, policy harmonization, and stakeholder engagement.

• Pillar 2: Sustainable Coastal Futures

     o Topics: Circular economy, climate adaptation, and community-led initiatives.

Each pillar includes 2–3 side events/workshops (90 minutes each).

c) Special Activities

• Opening/Closing Ceremony

     o Launch the conference with welcomes and keynote speeches

     o Announcement of the Yancheng Conclusion and conference outcomes.

• Mayors’ Roundtable

     o Coastal city leaders discuss harmonizing development and conservation.

• Coastal Blue Carbon Seminar under Climate Change

     o Strategies for blue carbon management and climate targets.

• WCF Coordination Group Plenary (Invited Only)

     o Strategic planning for WCF partnerships and future priorities.

• Workshops o Interactive training on green technologies and sustainable practices.

• Field Visits

  • Ecological Protection and Restoration:

     o Visits to UNESCO World Heritage sites, migratory bird sanctuaries, and restoration projects.

  • Green, Low-carbon, and Sustainability Innovation:

     o Tours of zero-carbon industrial parks and eco-friendly enterprises.

The WCF 2025 Conference offers to provide a global platform for international and national sharingof experiences and best practice and to identify ways to strengthen collaboration for conservation.management and restoration of coastal ecosystems. We welcome your active participation in this important event!

For proposals for side events and workshops, see here

For further information, please email us on: info@worldcoastalforum.org