At COP16, global experts came together at the IUCN Pavilion to explore how gender-responsive Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are shaping the future of biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and community adaptation to climate change.
Key highlights:
- Discussions on equitable, locally relevant, and scalable NbS strategies
- Insights from experts across WWF, IISD, IUCN, Oxford, and more
- A focus on social inclusion and climate action
Watch the full recording below, from 0:00:00 – 1:13:40:
The Convention on Biological Diversity COP 16 event at the IUCN Pavilion, titled “Harnessing Nature for Advancing Global Biodiversity and Climate Goals,” highlighted the critical role of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in addressing the intertwined challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss. The event showcased the potential of a significant investment under Canada’s Partnering for Climate (P4C) initiative to enhance the adaptation and resilience of biodiverse ecosystems. This initiative, supported by the Nature-based Solutions for Africa (NAbSA), aims to foster gender responsiveness and inclusive governance, contributing to the achievement of KM-GBF Targets 8 and 11.
The event focused on promoting collaborative approaches essential for addressing the challenges faced by communities in Sub-Saharan Africa. It emphasised the need for solutions that are equitable, locally relevant, and globally scalable, ensuring that the climate-biodiversity nexus solutions are effective. By convening climate and biodiversity decision-makers, the session informed discussions on critical COP 16 agenda items and supported the implementation of key targets. The discussions underscored the importance of community-driven approaches and inclusive governance in leveraging NbS to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of conservation efforts.
Event speakers:
IUCN moderator – Ali Raza Rizvi, Head, Climate Change & Energy Transition Team, IUCN
- Céline, Heinbecker, Director, Global Affairs Canada
- Natalie, Seddon, Professor of Biodiversity & Director, Nature-based Solutions Initiative
- Veronica, Lo, Senior Policy Advisor, IISD
- Claire, Cockett, Partnerships and Nature-based Solutions, WWF
- Tristan Tyrrell, Programme Management Officer for Biodiversity, Climate Change and Dry & Sub-humid Lands at the Secretariat of the CBD
- Veronica, Ruiz, Programme Manager EcoDRR, IUCN
Céline Heinbecker (Global Affairs Canada): Céline Heinbecker highlighted Canada’s commitment to climate finance through a $5.3 billion initiative, with a focus on adaptation projects that incorporate nature-based solutions with biodiversity co-benefits. She emphasised the importance of partnering with Indigenous communities, ensuring that funding calls are designed with Indigenous expertise to reflect their needs. Heinbecker also discussed the holistic programming approach that not only protects against climate change but also supports biodiversity conservation and enhances livelihoods.
“We designed a call for proposal with indigenous organisations in Canada. We had never before done that, in the history of our organisation… In this case we knew that we didn’t internally have the expertise to know how to design a call that would be appropriate. So we sought exemptions from all sorts of rules that we normally have to say, in the spirit of our conciliation we must be able to work with partners before we release a call for proposal.”
Natalie Seddon (Nature-based Solutions Initiative): Natalie Seddon focused on the exponential growth of research supporting nature-based solutions as effective strategies for climate adaptation. She highlighted the need for systemic transformation, including emission reductions, to maximise the impact of these solutions. Seddon underscored the importance of integrating Indigenous knowledge and holistic practices to reconnect society with nature.
“More interesting have been the local, regional, and national modelling exercises which show that there is a great deal of variation across different countries in the importance of a real focus on NbS as opposed to other more technological approaches to dealing with climate change.”
Veronica Lo (IISD): Veronica Lo emphasised the role of community learning and inclusive governance in implementing nature-based solutions. She discussed the creation of a community of practice that provides a platform for discussing challenges and sharing experiences, particularly engaging Indigenous organisations to ensure their voices are heard and respected in decision-making processes.
“The community of practice is a platform that brings together all the practitioners in Canada that are focused on NbS implementation abroad, but also at home. We’re also inviting a rich variety of different perspectives, so that we can expand and provide our community’s view on NbS and bring in the values component – we all value nature in different ways.”
Claire Cockett (WWF): Claire Cockett discussed WWF’s accelerator model, which aims to bridge the gap between sustainability and finance. She explained how the model provides technical assistance and small grants to unlock private investment for high-integrity nature-based solutions, facilitating the scaling up of sustainable practices.
“In terms of our focus in the NbS accelerator, we provide technical assistance to a small set of projects around the world, who were chosen through an open call for proposals, chosen because they were assessed to be high integrity Nature-based Solutions.”
Tristan Tyrrell (CBD Secretariat): Tristan Tyrrell addressed the broader implications of nature-based solutions, highlighting the need for systemic change in how societies interact with nature. He emphasised that these solutions are not just tools for meeting climate targets but are pathways to restructuring economic systems and fostering trust among all sectors, including private and Indigenous communities.
“Yes, we can talk about the role of nature and all the rest of it, but the reality is that we need to be restructuring our economic systems and also our societies as a whole if we’re going to actually achieve this long-term vision of living in harmony with nature.”
Veronica Ruiz (IUCN): Veronica Ruiz focused on the collaborative approach in developing nature-based solutions, emphasising the need for co-creation and breaking silos. She highlighted the importance of listening to project challenges and working together to create meaningful solutions, rather than developing isolated tools or reports. Ruiz stressed the importance of integrating climate adaptation processes with social and environmental considerations.
“One of the things that we are doing is really listening to the projects, what are your challenges? What are the barriers you’re facing? By doing so we have been able to think about how we can work together, but also how we can break the silos.”
The broader themes from the IUCN CBD COP16 Day 6 event emphasised the critical role of nature-based solutions (NbS) in addressing climate change and biodiversity loss, highlighting their potential to foster systemic change across environmental, social, and economic dimensions. The discussions stressed that NbS are not just tools for meeting climate targets but pathways to restructuring economic systems and fostering societal trust, involving diverse sectors including private and Indigenous communities.
A key theme was the importance of integrating inclusive governance and community-driven approaches into NbS implementation. This involves breaking down silos and ensuring that solutions are equitable, locally relevant, and globally scalable. The event highlighted the need for collaborative efforts that bring together various stakeholders, from grassroots to global levels, to create meaningful and sustainable impacts. Another significant theme was the emphasis on holistic approaches that consider ecosystem, financial, and cultural dimensions. By aligning with the Global Biodiversity Framework, the event underscored the necessity of interpreting biodiversity targets as an indivisible whole, integrating them across various sectors to enhance resilience and adaptation efforts.
“Harnessing Nature for Advancing Global Biodiversity and Climate Goals” at the IUCN Pavilion provided a platform for advancing the global nature-climate momentum through innovative and inclusive solutions. By showcasing the potential of NbS and emphasising the role of gender-responsive and community-driven approaches, the event laid the groundwork for future initiatives that aim to build resilience, safeguard livelihoods, and empower communities. This collaborative effort marks a significant step towards achieving a just, nature-positive, and resilient future.
