The IUCN World Conservation Congress has been postponed, with the event now due to take place on 7-15 January, 2021 in Marseille.

The decision was made after discussions between the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the French Government on the potential impact of COVID-19 on the IUCN Congress. Concerns over the health and wellbeing of participants was cited as the reason for this move.

The structure and events that were originally scheduled to take place in June, 2020 will remain the same. The venue booked for the Congress, Parc Chanot, will also be unchanged.

Registrations for the event, as well as hotel booking and excursion platforms, are currently closed while the details for the new date are being updated.

The CIC is in full support of this decision by IUCN and the French Government. The health and safety of attendees must be considered as a priority, and every measure must be taken to ensure that the Congress is organised at no risk to participants.