In the 2020s, CEC broadened its focus under the “Nature for All” umbrella, which resulted in increased IUCN membership participation with CEC programs focusing on the linkage between education, communication, and action. “NatureForAll” originated within the Brandwein Institute’s collaboration with CEC at both the World Parks Congress in 2014 and the “Inspiring a New Generation” Summit we convened in 2015. Inspiring a New Generation became “#NatureForAll” officially at the World Conservation Congress in Hawaii in 2016. #NatureForAll continues to grow and remains a key initiative of the IUCN’s Commissions on Education and Communication and the World Commission on Protected Areas. The IUCN Commission on Education and Communication (CEC) uses creative communication and education tools and approaches to raise awareness and inspire action to conserve nature. Our job is to mobilize people all over the planet for a world committed to protecting nature now and into the future.

The second medal will also be presented at the World Conservation Congress and will be given to the current CEC Chair, Sean Southey. Sean follows in a long history of outstanding Commission chairs. His leadership has been unusual in an extended term of nine years, made longer by service through the years of the worldwide COVID pandemic. Sean has dual citizenship in South Africa and Canada and is currently CEO of the Canadian Wildlife Federation. Throughout his term, he has been a strong advocate for education, including the work of #NatureForAll and nature-based education. He has been instrumental in helping to raise the visibility of nature-based education in the formal program of work for IUCN. All former Chairs will also be recognized.