UNGA80 Opens With Hopes Land Governance Will Gain Ground in Climate and Development Agendas

NEW YORK — The 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80), which opened on Sept. 9, 2025, and moves into its high-level General Debate from Sept. 23 to 29, is drawing global attention. For those working in land governance and land management, this year’s assembly carries particular weight, coming at a moment when climate change, conflict, rapid urbanisation and displacement are converging to put unprecedented strain on how land is used, accessed and governed.

World leaders will convene at UNGA80 in New York this week, where climate action and peace and security are set to shape high-level debates. LPN Global will be closely following these proceedings to capture key messages on the role of land governance in resolving these challenges. (Photo: United Nations)

Land is central to many of today’s most urgent humanitarian and development crises. In countries grappling with protracted conflict and mass displacement, unclear land rights and tenure insecurity fuel instability and obstruct recovery. Informal settlements are expanding in fast-growing cities, while rising land prices and weak land administration systems leave millions without secure housing or livelihoods.

Climate change adds another layer of urgency. From droughts and flooding to soil degradation, environmental pressures are disrupting food systems and undermining traditional land use patterns. In regions already vulnerable, the lack of resilient land management structures deepens inequality and accelerates displacement. At the same time, international human rights law continues to highlight the link between secure land tenure, housing rights and protection from forced evictions, with a forthcoming report on land and the right to adequate housing expected to feature prominently in UN discussions this fall.

Why This UNGA Stands Out

This year’s UNGA is not business as usual. The UN80 Initiative — a process of reflection and reform — seeks to re-shape the multilateral system to better address the needs of the Global South. For the land governance community, this could translate into greater international focus on tenure security, better coordination between UN agencies working on housing and land, and renewed financial support for locally led land administration programs.

The assembly also marks a critical checkpoint for the Sustainable Development Goals. With just five years remaining before the 2030 deadline, progress is lagging on several targets closely tied to land, including ending poverty, achieving food security, promoting sustainable cities and protecting terrestrial ecosystems. The SDG Moment on Sept. 22 is expected to highlight these gaps and renew commitments, with land issues positioned at the intersection of several goals.

Climate is another key focus. A high-level Climate Summit on Sept. 24 will push countries to present updated action plans and adaptation measures. Land restoration, sustainable agriculture, forest protection and ecosystem-based adaptation are all expected to feature prominently, underscoring how central land management is to building resilience.

What May Emerge for the Land Sector

The stakes for land governance are high, and several developments during UNGA80 could prove consequential. Governments may announce new or updated land-related policies as part of their climate and development agendas. Discussions on adaptation finance are also likely to touch on sustainable land use, with UNEP’s initiatives on land finance and impact measurement gaining attention as models for scaling investment.

Human rights debates at the assembly may strengthen the policy case for secure tenure and equitable land access. The ongoing work of the UN Human Rights Office on land and housing is expected to inform member state statements and side events. This presents an opportunity to bring questions of forced evictions, indigenous land rights and women’s access to land into mainstream debate at the world’s most visible multilateral forum.

A Moment of Opportunity and Risk

Despite the heightened attention, the path forward is uncertain. Competing crises — from armed conflicts to economic instability — may overshadow land issues on the crowded UNGA agenda. Limited financing for land policy implementation and entrenched inequalities also remain obstacles. Still, the convergence of debates on climate, human rights and sustainable development this week provides a rare chance for land advocates to elevate their agenda.

For governments, civil society groups and international agencies engaged in land governance, UNGA80 offers a platform to push for coherent policies, increased resources and stronger recognition of land as the foundation for peace, resilience and sustainable development. Whether these discussions translate into concrete action will depend on political will and follow-through in the months ahead, but the opportunity for land to move closer to the center of the global agenda is undeniable.