RECOFTC at COP28
The 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, also known as COP28, is scheduled to take place from 30 November to 12 December 2023, in Expo City, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The United Nations Climate Change Conferences are annual meetings held under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and serve as the world's highest decision-making body on climate issues.
COP28 is of particular significance as it marks the conclusion of the first Global Stocktake, a comprehensive assessment of the progress made in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement. The conference will focus on four paradigm shifts: fast-tracking the energy transition and reducing emissions before 2030; transforming climate finance by fulfilling past commitments and establishing a framework for a new financial deal; centering nature, people, lives and livelihoods in climate action; and striving for the most inclusive COP ever.
The Global Stocktake has highlighted the significant gap between the current global progress on limiting emissions and the reductions that are required by 2030 to keep us below a 1.5°C temperature increase. RECOFTC is committed to leading ambitious, socially just climate action in the Asia-Pacific region.
As part of its broader program of developing and communicating solutions, RECOFTC is participating in various events during COP28, focusing on topics such as carbon finance, social forestry, wildfire management, forest landscape restoration, among others.
Here are some key events RECOFTC will be participating in.
Amplifying local knowledge in climate change adaptation
2 December 2023, 09:00-10:20 (GMT+4), Indonesia Pavilion
Social forestry generally refers to the management of forests by local communities for climate change mitigation and adaptation, food security, nutrition, and livelihood support. In the context of climate change mitigation and adaptation, Adat communities play a significant role in implementing actions through their indigenous or local knowledge in preserving the forest. The knowledge systems and practices of Adat peoples are recognized as a major resource for climate change adaptation.
Regan Pairojmahakij, RECOFTC Senior Program Officer, Landscape Collaboration in a Changing Climate is speaking at this event.
A revolutionary shift for the voluntary carbon market: Leadership from forest communities and global south countries
3 December 2023, 9:00-10:00 (GMT+4), Nature Positive Pavilion, Blue Zone
Organizer: Equitable Earth Coalition
Leaders of Indigenous Peoples and Global South governments join together at this panel discussion to discuss how to end deforestation by 2030 through a new and revolutionary shift in the voluntary carbon market. This panel’s speakers will discuss community-led forest carbon projects and other initiatives they are engaged in to deliver equitable results for climate action and biodiversity protection that drive economic development for their people.
Forest guardians: Interconnecting generations for a climate-resilient world
3 December, 12:00-13:00 (GMT+4), Nepal Pavilion
Organizer: International Forestry Students’ Association (IFSA)
This exceptional panel discussion will bring together diverse stakeholders as guardians of forests to showcase the power of intergenerational contributions in achieving a climate-resilient world, from youth to government and field-related organisations in one platform. It will focus on forming strategies in mitigation and adaptation actions, transcending geographical boundaries, drawing participants and speakers from across the world which will provide a global perspective based on experiences from research and practice. It enables the identification of common challenges and opportunities for collective action, fostering a sense of interconnectedness and shared responsibility.
Regan Pairojmahakij, RECOFTC Senior Program Officer, Landscape Collaboration in a Changing Climate is speaking at this event.
Moving forward climate finance: ASEAN investment framework for haze-free sustainable land management
3 December 2023, 13:00-14:00 (GMT+4), Malaysia Pavilion, Blue Zone
Organizer: Global Environment Centre in partnership with the ASEAN Secretariat and the International Fund for Agricultural Development
The event aims to discuss and advance the climate finance strategies within the ASEAN region, with a particular focus on creating an investment framework for sustainable land management that can effectively mitigate haze.
Collective action on wildfire management: Ways forward to address evolving disasters
3 December 2023, 15:00-16:30 (GMT+4), Korea Pavilion
Organizers: Korea Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada, National Emergency Management Agency of Australia, FAO
The event will discuss and exchange best practices, knowledge, technologies, and integrated strategies related to the 5Rs (review and analysis, risk reduction, readiness, response, and recovery) in addressing future fire threats alongside global partners. Additionally, it will assess current fire management measures, fostering a reflection on and contribution to innovative approaches for a healthier future in fire management.
LEAF coalition reception
3 December 2023, 18.30-19.30 (GMT+4), Nordic Pavilion, Blue Zone
Organizer: NICFI
Reception to mark progress under the LEAF Coalition – a unique public-private partnership with a mission to scale finance for forests, including potential high level announcements. Target audience is REDD+ stakeholders, including representatives from developing forest nations, civil society and IPLC organisations.
Resilient roots: Exploring ancestral knowledge to face climate challenges and ensure food security on the Ecuador-Colombia border
4 December, 10:30-11:30 (GMT+4), Ecuador Pavilion, Blue Zone
This discussion focuses on building resilience among vulnerable communities in the Ecuador-Colombia border region to address hunger exacerbated by climate shocks. These communities will share their ancestral knowledge in successful climate change adaptation and food security projects.
How social forestry is tackling climate change and its best practices
4 December 2023, 12:00-13:20 (GMT+4), Indonesia Pavilion
Organizer: Indonesia Ministry of Environment and Forestry
Social Forestry, as a sustainable forest management system, is utilized by communities in and surrounding forests and is recognized for its strategic contribution to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. This method aids in the protection of natural forests and supports the livelihoods of local communities. The talk show aims to highlight the ways in which communities involved in Social Forestry are pioneering climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts.
Rising up to advance gender safety in climate action: Advancing the safety of women and girls from gender-based violence in climate and environmental leadership
4 December, 14:30-15:45 (GMT+4), IUCN Pavilion
Organizer: IUCN Gender-Based Violence and Environment Linkages Center
In this cross-sector dialogue, leading gender-based violence and environment policymakers, researchers, practitioners and civil society will discuss how climate action can support the safety of women and girls as a part of gender-responsive climate action.
Getting the carbon market right for communities
4 December 2023, 16:00-17:30 (GMT+4), IETA Pavilion, Business Hub, Blue Zone
Organizer: Peoples Forests Partnership
During this event, delegates from Indigenous and local communities will engage in a dialogue with representatives from carbon standards organizations. The event aims to reflect on the advancements in making standards beneficial for the people and explore strategies to address forthcoming challenges to pave the way for the successful implementation of fully integrated projects.
Mobilizing corporate climate action through high-integrity voluntary carbon markets
4 December 2023, 16:45-17:45 (GMT+4), WMB Pavilion, Blue Zone
Hosted by VCMI & WMBC
This flagship event will showcase climate leadership by companies who are pioneering action in a new era of high-integrity voluntary carbon markets (VCMs) to help keep 1.5 alive.
Enabling low emission, haze-free land management in Mekong region
9 December 2023,11:30-13:30 (GMT+4), Thailand Pavilion, Blue Zone
Organizer: Global Environment Centre, ASEAN Secretariat, International Fund for Agricultural Development and the Government of Thailand
The side event will feature a series of presentations focused on combating transboundary haze and promoting sustainable land management in Southeast Asia. Topics will include a detailed overview of the ASEAN Roadmap for sustainable land management, a discussion on investment frameworks supporting haze-free initiatives, insights into Thailand's national and regional strategies for clean air and an exploration of the impact of community-based forest management in addressing fire and haze issues.
David Ganz, RECOFTC Executive Director is speaking at this event.
Strategic pathways for land restoration and conservation: Multi-stakeholder deliverables and actions towards 2030 breakthroughs
9 December 2023, 13:00-14:30 (GMT+4), Al Waha Theatre
Organizer: COP28 Presidency, UN Climate Change High-Level Champions, UN Decade of Restoration (UNEP & FAO), G20 Global Land initiative (UNCCD)
This high-level event will convene global partners, including ministers, non-state actors, international organisations, and Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, to assess progress on the restoration and conservation of terrestrial ecosystems. Participants will announce their deliverables achieved in the past year and release actionable plans and commitments for the upcoming year and beyond. The power of multi-stakeholder partnerships in driving real-world change and delivery towards global goals and commitments on land restoration, including the G20 Land Use Initiative’s 2040 goal to halt land degradation by 2040, the Nature-Based Solutions 2030 Breakthrough target, and the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land-Use (GLD) will be highlighted. We will celebrate achievements, strengthen partnerships, and lay out concrete steps for ambitious land use and conservation breakthroughs, marking a pivotal moment in the "Delivery Era" of global restoration efforts under the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030).
David Ganz, RECOFTC Executive Director is speaking at this event.
Celebrating nature for inclusive climate action
9 December 2023, 19:00-21:00 (GMT+4), IUCN Pavilion
Organizer: IUCN
This side event will launch the ENACT-ing a Billion campaign to accelerate implementation of high-integrity nature-based solutions to address climate change, halt biodiversity loss and reduce land and ecosystem degradation. The campaign will accelerate progress toward the ENACT nature-based solutions goals through three key actions: increase global policy coherence on high-integrity nature-based solutions; provide strategic co-finance to enhance the high-integrity nature-based solutions capacity of existing funding mechanisms; and grow the global knowledge capacity on implementing high-integrity nature-based solutions through sector-specific guidance.
David Ganz, RECOFTC Executive Director is speaking at this event.
Forest landscape restoration for net zero carbon and urban adaptation including potential for scale up
10 December 2023, 11:30-12:30 (GMT+4), Thai Pavilion
Organizer: Royal Forest Department of Thailand
The side event aims to gather expert perspectives from various organizations on the active promotion of forest landscape restoration worldwide. It seeks to enhance the knowledge of those implementing forest landscape restoration, particularly in carbon sequestration, to achieve a net-zero carbon scheme. Additionally, the event will explore opportunities to expand forest landscape restoration and adaptation efforts in both degraded forests and urban areas.
David Ganz, RECOFTC Executive Director is speaking at this event.