The session examined the complexities surrounding housing, land, and property (HLP) rights in crisis contexts, emphasizing the significance of secure tenure throughout the stages of humanitarian response—from prevention to recovery. Aimed at engaging diverse stakeholders, the session addressed the challenges faced by humanitarian agencies in ensuring access to HLP rights during and after crises. Discussions were structured around four key themes. The first breakout group explored climate-induced displacement, highlighting the impact of environmental changes on access to HLP rights.

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 addressed the critical importance of securing land rights to achieve a just transition toward a sustainable and carbon-neutral future, focusing on the intersection of climate action and land tenure security. It began with an exploration of the implications of net-zero climate pledges, particularly regarding land-based Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) strategies. The presentation of the Climate-Forests-Land Rights Atlas underscored the complexities of balancing environmental goals with local land rights.

The session examined the role of tenure-responsive land use planning (LUP) as a critical tool for enhancing climate resilience, using a roundtable format to facilitate diverse perspectives from various stakeholders and countries. The discussion opened with an overview of the connections between cross-border LUP and climate resilience, emphasizing the need for coordinated planning to address the transboundary nature of climate challenges. A key focus was on public participation, exploring how to make local involvement substantive rather than symbolic.

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.