WGEO Program at COP29

WGEO Panel Discussion

Background

Nature-based solutions (NBS) offer a cost-effective and sustainable approach to addressing climate change. By harnessing the power of natural ecosystems, NBS can provide a range of benefits, including climate mitigation, adaptation, and biodiversity conservation. Recent reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)[1] emphasize the importance of NBS in addressing climate challenges and achieving sustainable development goals.

In Focus

Investing in NBS can yield significant returns in terms of climate mitigation, adaptation, and ecosystem services. However, it is essential to consider the specific context and needs of different regions when implementing NBS projects. Key factors to consider include:

• Cost-effectiveness: NBS can often be more cost-effective than traditional infrastructure solutions, such as seawalls or dams.
• Multiple benefits: NBS can provide a range of benefits, including carbon sequestration, flood protection, and biodiversity conservation.
• Community engagement: Involving local communities in the planning, implementation, and management of NBS projects is essential for ensuring their success.
• Scaling up: Scaling up NBS requires overcoming challenges such as land tenure, financing, and knowledge gaps.

Questions for Panel Discussion

How can investments in nature-based solutions be effectively leveraged for climate change adaptation and mitigation?

• What are the most effective NBS for addressing specific climate challenges, such as flooding, drought, and biodiversity loss?
• How can NBS be integrated into broader climate action strategies?
• What are the potential trade-offs and synergies between NBS and other climate mitigation and adaptation measures?

What are the benefits and challenges of investing in these solutions?

• How can the economic benefits of NBS be quantified and communicated to decision-makers?
• What are the potential risks and uncertainties associated with NBS investments?
• How can NBS be designed to be resilient to future climate change impacts?

How can multi-stakeholder partnerships enhance the implementation of nature-based solutions?

• What are the roles of governments, businesses, civil society organizations, and local communities in promoting NBS?
• How can partnerships be structured to ensure equitable benefit sharing and sustainable governance?
• What are the challenges and opportunities for international cooperation in implementing NBS?

WGEO Panel Discussion

Background

Biodiversity loss is a major global crisis with far-reaching consequences, including climate change, food insecurity, and human health risks. Protecting biodiversity is essential for building resilience to climate change and ensuring a sustainable future. Recent reports by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) highlight the urgent need for biodiversity conservation and restoration.

In Focus

Biodiversity plays a critical role in climate regulation, carbon sequestration, and ecosystem resilience. Protecting and restoring biodiversity can help to mitigate climate change impacts, such as extreme weather events, sea-level rise, and water scarcity.

Key strategies for biodiversity conservation include:

• Protected areas: Establishing and managing protected areas to conserve ecosystems and species.
• Sustainable land use: Promoting sustainable agriculture, forestry, and land management practices.
• Species conservation: Protecting endangered and threatened species.
• Ecosystem restoration: Restoring degraded ecosystems, such as forests, wetlands, and grasslands.
• Community-based conservation: Empowering local communities to participate in biodiversity conservation efforts.

Questions for Panel Discussion

What are the most critical strategies for protecting biodiversity to enhance climate resilience?

• How can protected areas be effectively managed to conserve biodiversity and mitigate climate change?
• What are the benefits of promoting sustainable land use practices for biodiversity and climate resilience?
• How can species conservation efforts be prioritized to protect key ecosystem services?

How can conservation efforts be aligned with local and global climate action plans?

• How can biodiversity conservation be integrated into national and international climate change policies?
• What are the financial incentives and mechanisms that can support biodiversity conservation?
• How can local communities be empowered to participate in climate-friendly biodiversity conservation efforts?

What role does community involvement play in successful biodiversity conservation initiatives?

• How can indigenous knowledge and traditional practices be incorporated into biodiversity conservation strategies?
• What are the benefits of community-based conservation approaches?
• How can community-based initiatives be supported and scaled up?

Panel Discussion by UNDP, WGEO Development Partner

Background

Climate change is increasingly recognized as a major threat to global peace and security, particularly for vulnerable coastal areas and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), where the impacts on food and water security, human mobility, and livelihoods are especially pronounced. UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ visit to the Pacific in August 2024 brought global attention to the severe implications of such impacts on the region, highlighting the urgent need for collective and cross-border and ross-regional actions.

UNDP and partners recognize that these coastal regions face a unique convergence of risks due to rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and the degradation of marine ecosystems. These challenges not only threaten local economies and livelihoods but also intensify existing unique risks, such as illegal fishing, trafficking, and migration​.

Coastal insecurity and illicit activities at sea and waterways can compound risks for already climate vulnerable coastal communities, with wider impacts on drivers of conflict, fragility and instability inland. Coast guard capabilities are often under-resourced; for instance, coastal countries in Africa with vast coastline, has only a limited number of vessels for patrol and combat, compared to their peers in developed countries.

In the SIDS, extreme climate risks are compounded by limited resources, geographic isolation and constraints that determine an over reliance on external partners and capacities. In the Pacific, Coast Guards and security sector play a significant role in regional cooperation for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercises.

Interactions between climate change and drivers of unique coastal insecurity exert far-reaching effects with those on inland insecurity still little understood, as is the case of related gendered impacts and the role of women, despite their increased engagement including in West African artisanal fisheries or in coastal adaptation and marine ecosystem restoration in the Pacific.

There is a need to deepen the understanding of the links between climate change effects and threats to security, to the coastal and maritime spheres across different regions, and to translate this knowledge into policy and action. Integrated approaches to coastal security risks in the climate, peace and security field can offer opportunities for innovative cross-border and cross-regional partnerships which target the most vulnerable.

In Focus

This panel discussion aims to deepen understanding of how climate change threatens security at sea and in coastal areas across different regions. Representatives from vulnerable countries and regions will share firsthand perspectives on key challenges and risks including food and water insecurity, illegal activities, and human mobility.

The event will explore practical partnership and actions that could translated cross-border, outlining a roadmap to translate this knowledge into policy and programming, with a focus on opportunities for capacity development, and innovative partnerships to support vulnerable coastal communities and SIDS.

WGEO Panel Discussion

Background

The world’s oceans play a crucial role in regulating the climate and providing essential ecosystem services. However, they are facing unprecedented threats from human activities and climate change, including pollution, overfishing, and ocean acidification.

Protecting and restoring marine ecosystems is essential for building climate resilience and ensuring a sustainable future.

Recent reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)[1] highlight the urgent need for ocean conservation and climate action. By protecting marine ecosystems, we can mitigate climate change, adapt to its impacts, and secure a sustainable future for generations to come. 

In Focus

Enhancing ocean resilience and marine conservation requires a multifaceted approach that addresses the root causes of ocean degradation.

Key strategies include:

• Marine protected areas: Establishing and effectively managing marine protected areas to safeguard biodiversity and ecosystem services.
• Sustainable fisheries management: Promoting sustainable fishing practices and reducing overfishing.
• Combatting marine pollution: Addressing plastic pollution, nutrient runoff, and other forms of marine pollution.
• Climate change adaptation: Developing and implementing strategies to help marine ecosystems adapt to climate change impacts, such as ocean acidification and sea-level rise.
• International cooperation: Strengthening international cooperation to address global ocean challenges and promote sustainable marine management.

Questions for Panel Discussion

What strategies are essential for enhancing the resilience of ocean ecosystems?

• How can marine protected areas be effectively managed to protect biodiversity and ecosystem services?
• What are the benefits of sustainable fisheries management and how can it be implemented?
• How can we reduce marine pollution and mitigate its impacts on ocean ecosystems?

How can marine conservation efforts be integrated with broader climate action strategies?

• How can ocean-based climate solutions, such as blue carbon initiatives, contribute to climate mitigation?
• What are the trade-offs and synergies between marine conservation and other climate action priorities?
• How can marine conservation be integrated into national and international climate change policies?

What role does international collaboration play in successful marine conservation and resilience?

• How can international agreements and partnerships promote sustainable ocean management?
• What are the challenges and opportunities for regional cooperation in marine conservation?
• How can developing countries be supported in implementing sustainable marine management practices?