Nature-Based Solutions COP25 High-Level Event: Accelerating Actions Together in 2020

Framing NBS in 2020

The increased attention and momentum for NBS arising from the Climate Action Summit, along with the 2020 Super Year presents a unique opportunity to accelerate progress on NBS, in order to pave the way towards exponential implementation during the following decade that will deliver for climate and development.

• Inger Andersen, Executive Director, UNEP
• H.E. Ambassador Luis Alfonso de Alba, UN SG Special Envoy for the Climate Action Summit 2019
• Qu Dongyu, Director-General, FAO
• Achim Steiner, Administrator, UNDP
• Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chair, GEF
• Karin Kemper, Global Director, Environment, Natural Resources and Blue Economy, World Bank Group
• Ovais Sarmad, Deputy Executive Secretary, UNFCCC

NDCs and Finance

The revision of NDCs during 2020 presents a unique opportunity to increase commitments on NBS. Alongside NDCs, finance is also key to unlock the potential of NBS. This requires the transformation of existing flows of domestic and international finance, as well as the generation of new sources of finance.

• H.E. Lee White, Minister of Forests, Oceans, Environment and Climate Change, Gabon
• H.E. Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, Minister of Environment and Energy, Costa Rica
• Grethel Aguilar, Acting Director General, IUCN
• Nigel Topping, CEO, We Mean Business

Growing the NBS Movement

While the movement advocating for nature as a climate solution has been growing steadily within societies, internationally and intergenerationally, it will be critical to continue to grow this. In particular, 2020 is a super year with a number of key convening points that can be used to build out the NBS action areas. Speakers will highlight how these moments can serve to accelerate political momentum and delivery of NBS actions.

• Daniel Calleja-Crespo, Director General, DG ENV, European Commission
• Vanessa Pérez-Cirera, Deputy Leader, Global Climate and Energy, WWF/ on behalf of Nature4Climate
• Marina Melanidis, Founder, Youth4Nature
• Juan Carlos Jintiach, Coordinator, COICA
• Oliviero Montanaro, Director General, Ministry of Environment, Italy

NBS for Adaptation –

Launch of the Global Commission on Adaptation Action Track on Nature-Based Solutions

• H.E. Patricia Fuller, Ambassador for Climate Change, Canada
• H.E. Martha Delgado, Vice Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mexico 
• Patrick Verkooijen, CEO, Global Center on Adaptation