High-Level Climate Champions

Read the op-ed in Economist Impact co-authored by H.E. Razan Al Mubarak and Johan Rockström on why nature remains our greatest ally in achieving net-zero. In 2023, the cost of climate change was devastating. 12,000 people lost their lives, inflicting over $200 billion in damages. At #COP28, nature was given greater prominence, with almost every country calling for an end to deforestation. As officials continue discussions in #COP16Colombia, the COP to COP road needs to ensure sufficient levels of public and private finance to keep the remaining nature on Earth intact. By 2030, nature could provide a third of cost-effective decarbonisation, generate 395 million jobs and create annual business opportunities worth some $10 trillion, if action is taken now. Read more: https://lnkd.in/g_cm2cxc

Small businesses can and must play a central role in shaping and implementing the collective roadmap for a green economy. They must not only survive but thrive in this transition. By supplying them with tools and training, as well as creating collaborative networks with large organisations, we are working towards climate-proofing #SMEs. We spoke to Reyhan Jamalova, Mirik Gogri, Nigel Topping, CMG and Tim Lenton. Watch it here 👇

In the Kassena Nankana districts of Ghana’s Upper East Region, the land tells the story of a community battling climate extremes. Parched earth cracks underfoot during extended droughts, while sudden bursts of unpredictable rainfall fail to nourish the struggling crops. Climate change continues to threaten the stability of the region, where erratic weather patterns and water scarcity make farming unreliable. These conditions disproportionately affect women and children, leading to widespread malnutrition and deepening gender inequality. Period poverty further exacerbates this inequality, preventing girls from accessing education and fully participating in society. Amidst these challenges, hope is taking root. The “Water for Adaptation and Period Poverty” (W4APP) project, operating in the Kassena Nankana West and East districts, is helping improve access to water, food security, and education. The project focuses on sustainable water access, menstrual hygiene education, youth leadership development, and alternative livelihood training – laying a path for greater resilience in the face of climate change. Read more: https://bit.ly/rTrGhana

Kicking off the second week at COP16 Colombia, we're deepening our commitment to ocean and nature conservation, emphasizing the importance of scaling both private and public finance, and championing the critical role of #NatureBasedSolutions for a sustainable future. I was honored to deliver the opening remarks at the "High-Level Opening of Ocean Day" organized by the CBD Secretariat. We discussed the need for a synergistic approach to sustainable ocean economies and called for radical collaboration across society to tackle the complex nexus of ocean, nature, climate, and development. I also had the privilege of meeting with Mayor Alejandro Eder of Cali, a city notable for its rich biodiversity, the highest per square meter in Colombia. Our conversation underscored the importance of local leadership in global conservation efforts. At the 'Urban Nature Program’s Mayors’ Leadership Forum,' we launched an urban nature call to action, building on the momentum from COP28 UAE. This session, co-hosted by the African Natural Capital Alliance, Centro Científico Tropical, and IUCN, also featured a special keynote showcasing the #NaturePositiveforClimateAction campaign. As IUCN President, I welcomed attendees to the "#GenderEquality for Climate and Conservation Solutions" event. We engaged in productive discussions on integrating gender equality into conservation efforts, aligned with Target 23 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Looking ahead to Monday, I’m excited for a day filled with discussions at the CBD IPLC Caucus, exploring linkages between Sustainable Ocean Plans and the Global Biodiversity Framework, and strategizing with our IUCN Framework Partners on advancing conservation goals. Together, these events reflect our unwavering commitment to integrating ocean and nature conservation with social equity for a better future for all. Stay tuned for more updates from COP16. #OceanDay #NaturePositive #GenderEquality #ClimateAction #COP16 #IUCN

Latest news from #COP16Colombia. H.E. Razan Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28 joined partners in Cali on Sunday to emphasize the critical need to protect and restore #nature to safeguard our collective future. At the High Level Opening of Ocean Day, hosted by the COP16 Colombia Secretariat, the #OceanBreakthroughs was highlighted as a transformative pathway to reach biodiversity and climate goals, contributing to a resilient, nature-positive and net-zero future. Launched at #COP28, the Urban Nature Program, co-led by the The World Bank, UN Environment Programme, and ICLEI, with the support of the Global Environment Facility, Inter-American Development Bank, C40 Cities, World Resources Institute, IUCN and Climate Champions Team held the first meeting of the Mayor’s Leadership Forum. Together with mayors, participants spearheaded the role of cities in protecting #nature to achieve the targets set out in the #GlobalBiodiversityFramework. Representatives of financial institutions and investors joined the Nature-based solutions in Africa: Unlocking the Potential of Nature Finance event, convened by African Natural Capital Alliance (ANCA), FSD Africa, IUCN, and Climate Champions Team. Home to 25% of global #biodiversity, the most innovative nature-based solutions in the world are emerging in the continent. Stay tuned for more #COP16Colombia news.

Latest news from #COP16Colombia. On Saturday in Cali the Climate Champions gathered with collaborators and partners to advance the scaling of finance for nature. During the “From Cali to Belem: Nature and climate in the coming years” event, co-hosted by NatureFinance, the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and the Climate Champions, discussions focused on international collaboration and the integration of #nature into global financial systems ahead of #COP30. TNFD also launched a blueprint for the Global Nature Data Public Facility, to scale the availability, quality and maintenance of nature-related data. To achieve the goals and targets of the Global Biodiversity Framework and the Sharm El-Sheikh Adaptation Agenda (SAA) adopted at COP27, investments in nature need to triple to over $500 billion annually by 2030. The role of insurance in achieving these targets was on the agenda at today's “Enabling Nature Positive Transition by 2030 Using Insurance” event. Attended by represnetives from Howden, United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI), AXA, SCOR and Ambition Loop among others, insights were shared on how insurance solutions are currently being implemented and where there is scope for scaling and collaborating to expedite the transiition, leveraging the full potential of the insurance sector. Stay tuned for more #COP16Colombia news.

The Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) announced today at #COP16Colombia in Cali that over 500 organisations with $17.7 trillion assets under management are now committed to getting started with voluntary reporting on their nature-related issues. This marks a 52% increase this year. TNFD’s approach to assessment and disclosure supports the goals and targets of the #GlobalBiodiversityFramework. Today’s announcement demonstrates that the market is moving quickly to embrace nature-related risk management and disclosure aligned with these global policy goals.

🌊 Join us at CBD COP16! 🌱 The Coral Reef Breakthrough and Mangrove Breakthrough, resulting from the joint efforts of the Marrakech Partnership on Ocean & Coastal Zones and the High-Level Climate Champions, will unite major partnerships to showcase how coastal and marine ecosystems can drive progress on global biodiversity and climate goals. These Breakthroughs harness the power of Nature-Based Solutions to address biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation and mitigation, making them key to accelerating the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the Paris Agreement. 📅 Event: Advancing the Marine Conservation Breakthrough: Connecting Global Action to Scale Nature-Based Solutions 🌱 Hosted by the #MangroveBreakthrough #CoralReefBreakthrough #SeagrassBreakthrough #OceanBreakthroughs. 📍 Where: #ForCoral Pavilion at CBD COP16 🗓️ When: October 27th, 3.00 - 4.30 pm (COT) Let’s accelerate meaningful change for our coastal ecosystems and our planet. #ForCoral #COP16Colombia #NatureBasedSolutions #ParisAgreement #KunmingMontrealFramework #MarineConservation International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI)  Global Fund for Coral Reefs Global Mangrove Alliance High-Level Climate Champions Ocean & Climate Platform

The Climate Champions at #COP16Colombia COP16 Colombia is a unique opportunity to address the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change together. In Cali, we are excited to unite with a vast array of partners to drive progress across a number of sectors. This includes scaling finance for oceans and coral reefs, redirecting financial flows to nature-positive activities, increasing direct access to finance for Indigenous Peoples and the implementation of the #RioConventions in alignment with the #ParisAgreement and the #GlobalBiodiversityFramework. Check out our packed programme of events, discussions, meetings and convenings to drive action and safeguard our natural world.

At COP16 Colombia, H.E. Razan Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28 UAE will support and mobilise partners from across the real economy to drive action on biodiversity loss and increase finance for nature-positive solutions. Find out more in our latest article: https://lnkd.in/de3hSw9j