COP29 Side Event - Revealing Global Peatland Hotspots for climate action: bridging science and policy

We urgently need climate action in priority areas revealed in thCOP event postere Global Peatland Hotspot Atlas, set to be launched at the event. The Atlas bridges science and policy through thematic maps and visuals, uniting stakeholders to set ambitious targets and leverage funds for climate action on peatlands and wetlands.

This event is a call to action for scaling up efforts under the Global Peatlands Initiative, towards peatland conservation, restoration, and sustainable management. By presenting the latest knowledge in an engaging format, it aims to attract a broad audience and raise awareness of the vital role of peatlands found in nearly every country. It seeks to bridge discussions within the international frameworks of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, emphasizing that success in one convention is linked to the others.

The session will highlight the importance of integration, showcase available tools and data, and emphasize the urgent need for scalable financial solutions to support peatland actions that address climate change, enhance biodiversity, and ensure water security. Distinguished panelists with representatives from various countries will share their efforts in sustainable peatland management, highlighting successful initiatives and collaborative approaches that can inspire further global action.

***

Preliminary agenda

Part 1

Moderator: Amy Duchelle, Team Leader, Forests & Climate, FAO

Opening remarks by Bruno Pozzi, Deputy Director of the Ecosystems Division, UN Environment Programme

Presentation: Revealing global peatland hotspots for climate action: Bridging science and policy, by Jan Peters, Managing Director, Michael Succow Foundation, partner in the Greifswald Mire Centre

Presentation: Sustainable finance in Southeast Asian Nations, by Faizal Parish, Director, Global Environment Centre

 

Part 2 – Country experiences   

Moderator: Jerker Tamelander, Director, Science and Policy, Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

Democratic Republic of the Congo: Ève Bazaïba, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister, Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (TBC)

Germany: Steffi Lemke, Minister, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection

Indonesia: Minister, Ministry of Environment (TBC)

Malaysia: Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Minister, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability

Colombia: Susana Muhamad, Minister, Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (TBC)

Mongolia: Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (TBC)

 

Q&A from audience

Closing remarks: Call to action, by Jerker Tamelander, Director, Science and Policy, Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

Plant-Based Canapés outside the event room

***

Audience

The target audience for this event includes a broad range of stakeholders with varying levels of knowledge about peatlands and wetlands, including policymakers, practitioners, NGOs, indigenous communities, local governments, scientists and academics, and industry representatives.

Organizers

This event is organized under the efforts of the Global Peatlands Initiative, with the Michael Succow Foundation, partner in the Greifswald Mire Centre, Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, Wetlands International, Global Environment Centre, UN Environment Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations guiding the efforts.

Find out more here.

Peatland landscape showing flux tower and solar panel with a blue sky and hills in the background. Image credit Hollie Cooper, UKCEH
Funding announced for greenhouse gas reduction solutions on peatlandsThe UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology is seeking proposals for projects up to £75,000 to advance…
Hare's tail cottongrass on Humberhead levels
Committee on Climate Change (CCC) 7th Carbon Budget Report - a response from IUCN UK Peatland ProgrammeThe IUCN UK Peatland Programme welcomes this week the publication of the Committee on Climate…
Water vole sitting with blackberries
New species showcase - Water voleContinuing the spotlight on peatland biodiversity, our first Species Showcase of 2025 is the Water…
Digger being used to carry out peat bog restoration. Photo: Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust
Adoption of University of Cumbria PhD student’s carbon calculator brings national and international significanceThis week University of Cumbria and Barker and Bland Ltd.’s innovative carbon calculator has been…
Image advertising launch of the CivTech Round 10 Challenge
CiVTech innovators leading drive for advances within Peatland and Woodland Carbon CodesBringing efficiences to the Peatland Code and Woodland Carbon Code is the focus for three…
Interior of the Virtual Peatlands Pavilion, showing the information desk with a giant dragonfly and globe suspended above it.
Embark on a voyage of discovery with the Virtual Peatlands Pavilion 2025 world tour To raise awareness of the global distribution and importance of peatlands, the Virtual Peatlands…
Image of a computer screen displaying a survey
Public Consultation for Biodiversity Quantification MethodologyThe Woodland Carbon Code and Peatland Code are pleased to announce their public consultation…
Image of machinery being used on a peatland to restore the habitat
Natural Resources Wales announces new funding for peatland restorationA new restoration fund, managed by Natural Resources Wales (NRW), was launched this week in an…
The IUCN UK Peatland Programme team at the base of Kinder Scout
Reflecting on 2024: a busy year for peatlandsAs the year draws to a close, the IUCN UK Peatland Programme looks back on 2024.
Four people in outdoor clothing looking out across a peatland landscape. Image credit: Mark Reed
Help answer the question: Do investors undervalue the social impact of peatland projects in the UK when making investment decisions?Business professionals at the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership are seeking…
Photograph of Cornwall Sustainability Awards on a table with a screen in the background
Big Win for Cornwall’s Peatlands at Local Sustainability AwardsThe South West Peatland Partnership (SWPP) has been recognised at the 2024 Cornwall Sustainability…
Aerial image of hagging on a damaged blanket bog landscape. Image credit: Mark Brown
Technical review of remote sensing for UK peatlandsThe IUCN UK Peatland Programme has commissioned a technical review of the potential and…