Mangroves at the 2022 UN COPs

From November 6th to November 18th, world leaders will be watching and attending two major conference of parties (COPs) under the United Nations; the 27th UN Climate Change Conference and the 14th Convention on Wetlands “Ramsar” Conference. Mangroves, and the actions that decision-makers need to take to protect and manage the coastal trees and ecosystems, will be highlighted throughout the conferences by members and partners of the Global Mangrove Alliance. These events are listed below and more information on outcomes and future work will be shared at a later date.

Global Mangroves into 2030/2050 – Ramsar COP14

Time: Monday 7 November 2022, 12:15-13:15 (UTC +1, CET)

Lead organization: Mangrove Foundation (MCF), China

Partner organizations: National Forestry and Grassland Administration (NFGA), P.R.C.,
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), International Union for Conservation of
Nature (IUCN), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Wetlands International (WI), SEE
Conservation, Vanke Foundation

Description:  This side event will review the progress and challenges on global mangrove conservation, promote consensus among stakeholders in protecting mangrove and blue carbon, and mobilize science-based innovation and synchronized actions in the next decade, under the vision 2050 on biodiversity. It also calls for all parties to support development of international mangrove protection and collaboration mechanism, as well as facilitate the establishment of International Mangrove Center.

Blue Carbon in Blue Economy Development and Achievement of Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) target – UN Climate COP27

Time: Tuesday 8 November 2022, 10:00 – 11:30 (UTC +2, EET)

Location: Indonesia Pavilion

Lead Organization: Conservation International

Description: Indonesia is actively in efforts to achieve NDC targets with the establishment of Presidential Regulation number 98/2021 concerning the Implementation of Carbon Economic Values for Achieving Nationally Determined Contribution Targets and greenhouse gas emissions reduction in National Development. This event is organized for information exchange from various parties in preparation for Blue Carbon in the implementation of the Presidential Regulation on Carbon Economic Values specifically for the marine sector or Blue Carbon

Global Leadership on Blue Carbon: Keys to Success – UN Climate COP27

Time: Tuesday 8 November 2022, 11:00 – 12:00 (UTC +2, EET)

Location: Nature Pavilion

Lead Organization: Conservation International

Description: A joint event with the Blue Carbon Initiative (CI, IUCN and IOC-UNESCO) and the International Partnership for Blue Carbon (IPBC) highlighting blue carbon leadership and initiatives globally and sharing best practices that countries interested in engaging in blue carbon projects may wish to follow.

Building Resilience in Blue Carbon Ecosystems for Coastal Communities – UN Climate COP27

Time: Tuesday 8 November 2022, 13:00 – 13:55 (UTC +2, EET)

Location: Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion

Lead Organization: The Commonwealth Blue Charter’s Ocean and Climate Change Action Group

Description: The Commonwealth Blue Charter’s Ocean and Climate Change Action Group (OCCAG), championed by Fiji, and the Mangrove Ecosystems and Livelihoods Action Group (MELAG), championed by Sri Lanka, invite you to a panel discussion on approaches to mangrove restoration, local community engagement and innovative financing. This event will provide an overview of the science and policy adopted by different nations for better mangrove management, and will showcase case studies from across the Commonwealth. Panelists will also discuss opportunities for Commonwealth countries to build the resilience of mangrove ecosystems.

Speakers: Rizvi Hassen Ocean Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka | Izhaar Ali Climate Change & Int Cooperation Division, Ministry of Economy, Fiji | Elizabeth Francis Lead Project Developer, Fair Carbon | Dan Crockett Development Director, Blue Marine Foundation | Josheena Naggea Postdoctoral Fellow, Stanford Centre for Ocean Solution | Heidi Prislan (moderator) Adviser, Commonwealth Blue Charter

Coastal Wetlands in National and Subnational Climate Strategies: Nature-Based Solutions in Practice – UN Climate COP27

Time: Thursday 10 November, 2022, 9:00 – 10:00 (UTC +2, EET)

Location: Nature Pavilion

Lead Organization: Pew Charitable Trusts

Description: Moderated panel sharing key learnings from countries and US states at various stages of implementing current, and developing future, targets for their coastal “blue carbon” habitats – mangrove, seagrass and saltmarsh – as nature-based solutions within national and subnational climate strategies.

Accelerating Ocean-based Climate Action for a Sustainable Future – UN Climate COP27

Time: Tuesday 10 November 2022, 10:00 – 11:30 (UTC +2, EET)

Location: French Pavilion

Lead Organization: Conservation International

Description: This event will feature a dynamic roundtable exploring the topic “from ‘problem’ to ‘solution’, showcasing actionable ocean-based initiatives for a resilient and net-zero future”

Launch of the Mangrove Breakthrough – UN Climate COP27

Time: Thursday 10 November, 2022, 10:30 – 11:00 (UTC +2, EET)

Location: Nature Pavilion: Media Zone

Lead Organization: UN High-Level Climate Champions / Global Mangrove Alliance

Description: This event will launch the Mangrove Breakthrough, a joint initiative of the High-Level Climate Champions and the Global Mangrove Alliance with the aim to align the work of Parties and non-state actors on mangrove action under shared targets and ambition, and to drive and unlock public, philanthropic, and private finance for the protection and restoration of mangrove ecosystems.

The Future of Blue Carbon Roundtable at the Ocean X Climate Summit – UN Climate COP27

Time:  Friday 11 November 2022, 16:30 (UTC +2, EET)

Location: Park Regency Hotel, Grand Ballroom

Lead Organization: Fair Carbon

Description: Blue Carbon is a key topic at this COP. This discussion will pull together the main issues and provide clarity on what needs to be done to unlock the potential of Blue Carbon.

Speakers: Moderator – John Vermilye, Fair Carbon | Dr. Whitney Johnston, Director of Ocean Sustainability, Salesforce | Josheena Naggea, André Hoffmann Ocean Innovation Fellow, World Economic Forum, Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions | Nicholas Hardman‑Mountford, Adviser and Head, Ocean Governance and Natural Resource Management, The Commonwealth

Delivering on climate pledges – What does high-quality corporate action look like? High Quality Blue Carbon Principles Launch – UN Climate COP27

Time:  Saturday 12 November 2022, 10:00-11:00 (UTC +2, EET)

Location: We Mean Business Pavilion

Lead Organization: Conservation International

Description: Corporate pledges for climate and nature and the voluntary carbon market are both critical tools that, when made and used well, can play an important role in corporate climate action, positively supporting our world’s collective journey to a net zero, nature positive future. To help private sector leaders on this journey, specifically in the fast-emerging space of blue carbon, this session will feature the launch of the High-Quality Blue Carbon Principles and Guidance. Areas for discussion will include trends and guidance in the pursuit of a high-quality carbon market and pragmatic best practices towards the achievement of high integrity corporate action at large.

How Climate Change Mobilization Promotes Adaptation & Resilience in Latin America & the Caribbean’s Private Sector – UN Climate COP27

Time:  Saturday 12 November 2022, 15:00-16:00 (UTC +2, EET)

Location: MDB Joint Pavilion

Lead Organization: Conservation International

Description: This panel will analyze how an early response and preventive adaptation solutions can be more effective and less costly than a late reaction. Speakers will present examples where adaptation measures to climate change make it possible to curtail negative effects, reduce vulnerabilities and increase the resilience of human and natural systems to climate change. In this direction, IDB Invest will reinforce its work in promoting the incorporation of adaptation and resilience measures for its clients, prioritizing nature-based solutions.

“Doing it Better: Unpacking evidence from the field and lessons learned from NbS for Adaptation”   – UN Climate COP27

Time:  Monday 14 November 2022, 14:00-15:00 (UTC +2, EET)

Location: Capacity Building Hub

Description: The intent of this panel session is to demonstrate concrete evidence and results from completed and in-progress projects, including lessons learned, return on investment, and impact of projects on the ground – and how this can be taken forward into future projects as adaptation efforts are scaled up around the world.

Launch of the International Blue Carbon Institute, and Reception – UN Climate COP27

Time:  Monday 14 November 2022, 16:00 (UTC +2, EET)

Location: Singapore Pavilion, Blue Zone

Description: The International Blue Carbon Institute (IBCI) will accelerate and scale blue carbon implementation in Asia and beyond through science, training, and development of essential technical capacity, methodologies, and tools. Based in Singapore, the goals of the IBCI are to: Build multi-disciplinary capacity in Asia and beyond, to research, design, and implement blue carbon related programs, policy, and projects, provide a globally recognized hub facilitating the exchange of blue carbon expertise, knowledge, and learning, and provide regional and international leadership in the translation of cutting-edge science into tools and methodologies for broad application of blue carbon for climate mitigation and adaptation.

Partnerships to accelerate action to protect blue carbon ecosystems for mitigation and adaptation – UN Climate COP27

Time: Tuesday 15 November 2022, 13:15 – 14:45 (UTC +2, EET)

Location: Thutmose Room, Blue Zone

Lead Organization: IUCN, International Partnership for Blue Carbon (IPBC), Australia, and the Pew Charitable Trusts

Description: The side event aims at demonstrating how partnerships across different sectors are key to driving credible action for the protection and restoration of blue carbon ecosystems (mangroves, seagrasses, tidal marshes), contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, biodiversity, ocean economies and livelihoods of coastal communities. IUCN will share its experience working in the Blue Carbon space for the last 14 years, and most recently managing the Blue Carbon Accelerator Fund (BCAF). The BCAF was established by Australia and IUCN as a dedicated funding scheme with a vision to help increase coastal blue carbon ecosystems conservation and restoration for the benefits to climate change mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity and livelihoods of coastal communities.

Blue Carbon Implementation Lab – Official Ocean Action Day Event – UN Climate COP27

Time: Wednesday 16 November 2022, 15:00-16:30 (UTC +2, EET)

Location: Blue Zone, Action Room

Description: Over the last decade, Blue Carbon ecosystems have been recognized for their value for climate mitigation and adaptation, as well as their critical value for biodiversity and communities. Climate policy and finance is now beginning to support development and implementation of conservation and restoration of blue carbon ecosystems. This Lab will highlight these successes and identify the key emerging opportunities for scaling.

Engineering the vision for climate resilient transport – UN Climate COP27

Time: Wednesday 16 November 2022, 10:30-12:00 (UTC +2, EET)

Location: UNFCCC Action Zone

Description: The focus of this event will be progress on and implementation of the adaptation and resilience breakthrough: ‘Transport infrastructure be resilient to climate hazards through adoption of new technology, design and materials.’ The session will bring together transport experts from the global engineering community, including from the private sector, professional associations, academia and key transport industry bodies, alongside representatives from the policymaker and the investor communities.

 Nature-based Solutions session at Resilience Hub – From gray to green: A lifecycle approach to integrating Nature based Solutions  – UN Climate COP27

Time: Wednesday 16 November 2022, 17:00-18:00 (UTC +2, EET)

Location: Resilience Hub

Description: Making a strong case for Nature-based Solutions (NbS) requires consideration of their whole lifecycle, from concept planning to design and implementation through to operations and maintenance. This includes defining the physical scope of the project, making the case for investment, identifying who owns and maintains the NbS and then measuring how the benefits, costs and impacts of NbS are generated and perceived across the project. This session will showcase real world examples of planning, delivery and management of NbS, with a focus on building the business case, implementing hybrid solutions and their long-term operation and maintenance.

Ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) and forest restoration for increased resilience – UN Climate COP27

Time: Thursday 17 November 2022, 15:00-16:30 (UTC +2, EET)

Location: Thebes Room, Blue Zone

Lead Organization: Welthungerhilfe & OroVerde Tropical Forest Foundation

Description: Panelists will highlight how the project’s EbA-approach helps to integrate ecosystem conservation, restoration and adaptation to climate change while assuring food security in rural communities, building on multi-actor-partnerships (MAP) at local, regional and national level as a governance model, aiming at creating local ownership about Climate Change adaptation strategies and at replication and up-scaling of EbA measures throughout and beyond the project regions. Further, the threat of climate change impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning will be presented with examples from Hispaniola, along with recommendations for much needed mitigation and adaptation strategies.