IUCN event | 17 Nov, 2022

Shaping the climate and nature convergence to address the intertwined crises

Science is clear that we cannot address the climate crisis without addressing the biodiversity one, and vice versa. Yet now they occur in parallel processes within the UNFCCC and CBD, respectively, with insufficient alignment. The challenge of how to find and strengthen convergence remains.

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Photo: Bernard T Wahyu Wiryanta / iNaturalist / CC BY 4.0

We are in a moment of unprecedented opportunity, when we have the sequence of a climate COP followed by the biodiversity one. In this session the aim is to analyse where we are and where we need to be regarding nature and climate objectives, look at the trends and opportunities of convergence, and explore and identify key elements to shape it from multilateral and national perspectives, as well as from a whole of society approach.

This event will seek to identify entry points and key messages to shape synergies and convergence benefits for nature and climate objectives with a view to finding pathways that need to be taken for ambitious implementation at the UNFCCC and CBD.

Speakers will include:

Opening remarks: Manuel Pulgar-Vidal - Global Lead of Climate & Energy at WWF

Moderator: Sandeep Sengupta - Global Policy Lead on Climate Change at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

Panellists:

  • Mairi McAllan - Minister for Environment, Biodiversity and Land Reform of Scotland
  • Gonzalo Muñoz - United Nations High Level Climate Action Champion for COP25 (Chile)
  • Gustavo Montezano - President of the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES)
  • Virginia Young - IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA), Member of its Specialist Group on Climate Change and its Task force on Primary Forests
  • Christina Voigt - Chair, IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law (WCEL); Professor, University of Oslo; Norwegian negotiator