Side event details

Limitations to the understanding of the climate co-benefits of wetland management remain a major impediment to the integration of these ecosystems in adaptation planning at various levels. Measuring and communicating the climate co-benefits can help improve the design and implementation of wetland management programmes and policies, facilitate access to funding, report progress towards national and global climate targets and support integration of wetlands into sectoral climate action and disaster management plans.
Wetland management provides numerous climate co-benefits. Healthy wetlands serve as natural buffers against extreme events like storm surge and flooding, while also enhancing water and food security and fostering resilience to climate change. Although our understanding of the significant climate co-benefits of wetlands has advanced, their potential for climate action remains peripherally understood and targeted.
To bridge this gap, a novel and tiered assessment methodology has been developed to assess the contribution of wetland management to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. This initiative is a part of the Indo-German Support Project for Climate Action in India, implemented by GIZ in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, commissioned by the International Climate Initiative under Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action. This online tool enables users to identify and measure the diverse adaptation co-benefits of effective wetland management in a simplified stepwise approach.
This tool will support the implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions, National Adaptation Plans and Biodiversity Targets towards achieving the climate goals. It will also contribute to achieving the targets on restoration and establishing finance for implementation of draft Fifth Strategic Plan of the Convention on Wetlands (2025-2034). Discussions at this side event will also align with the Draft resolution on assessing pressures on and risks to wetlands (document COP15 Doc.23.23).
This side event will feature launch of the online co-benefit assessment tool and a moderated panel discussion with policy makers, scientific experts and practitioners on opportunities for mainstreaming adaptation co-benefits in wetland management plans and investments. The event will provide Contracting Parties with an opportunity to learn about the co-benefit assessment methodology and explore potential areas for its application within their respective domains.

Moderator: GIZ
Programme
1. Setting the context
2. Opening remarks
3. Launch and presentation of, ‘Climate co-benefits of wetland management – An assessment tool’
4. Panel Discussion focussing on opportunities for mainstreaming adaptation/DRR co-benefits in wetland management plans and investments/ funding.
Panellists (TBC)
• Mr Rajat Agarwal, Joint Secretary and National Focal Point, India, MoEFCC
• Mr Jerker Tamelander, Director, Science and Policy, Ramsar Secretariat
• Representative, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV), Germany
• Wetlands practitioner, Wetlands International
• Dr Max Finlayson, Gulbali Institute, Charles Sturt University
• Representative, Green Climate Fund