COP27 - Kiwa side event to highlight climate change adaptation solutions in the Pacific
At COP27, the Kiwa Initiative organized a side event aiming to:
- Explain what Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are.
- Present the Kiwa Initiative as a key program for the implementation of NbS in the Pacific region and their integration into public policies.
- Present the potential of NbS for climate change adaptation through concrete projects such as :
- Promoting agroecology and agroforestry via a network of educational farms in Fiji, Nauru, Solomon Islands and Tonga through the regional project Kiwa POLFN.
- Strengthening the resilience of ecosystems, economies and populations of Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna to the impacts of climate change through the regional project Kiwa PEBACC+.
- Reforestation actions, aiming at reducing flood risks, minimizing soil erosion, improving sustainable land use in Solomon Islands, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea through the regional project Kiwa WISH+.
- A hybrid solution against coastal erosion in Fiji with the local Kiwa project supported by the Fiji Ministry of Waterways and Environment. In Fiji, a variety of NbS will be implemented through the Kiwa Initiative, both in local and regional projects.
During this side event, Kiwa Initiative partners (SPC, SPREP, IUCN) and donor representatives took the floor, including Mr. Stefano Signore - Head of Unit for Climate Change and Sustainable Energy and Nuclear Safety for the European Commission, Mr.Anthony Liew -Assistant Director, Pacific Strategic Branch, Office of the Pacific, Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mrs. Alison Carlin - Head of Development, New Zealand Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Mrs. Cassilde Brénière - Deputy Director, Sustainable Development Solutions Department, AFD.
At COP 27, the importance of working on an integrated global approach to NbS was highlighted, notably through the implementation of ENACT (Enhancing Nature-based Solutions for an Accelerated Climate Transformation). This new ENACT initiative will coordinate global efforts to address climate change, land and ecosystem degradation, and biodiversity loss through NbS. The initiative will also produce an annual report on the status of NbS to inform COP28 and subsequent meetings on progress in implementing NbS commitments. More details in this IUCN article: Egyptian COP27 Presidency, Germany and IUCN announce ENACT Initiative for Nature-based Solutions - Press release | IUCN
It is also worth noting that the "Adaptation Fund" should receive over 230 million USD in 2022 to help vulnerable communities adapt to climate change through concrete adaptation solutions. But according to UNEP, the United Nations Environment Programme, the annual needs for adaptation are between 160 and 340 billion USD by 2030.
This COP27 also marks the inclusion of "Nature-based Solutions" in the final decision text for the first time. Although this term is now included in the text, NBS are not an alternative to greenhouse gas emission reduction measures. Drastic mitigation actions will be needed to achieve the goal, confirmed in Sharm el-Sheikh, of limiting the global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
"This COP has reinforced that the time for climate action is now and that Nature-based Solutions have a key role to play. They must deliver results of high integrity, consistent with strong environmental and social safeguards. It is time to bring together Parties and Nature-based Solutions experts from around the world to accelerate meaningful integrated action on climate and biodiversity. I look forward to learning more about ENACT's progress through the State of Nature-based Solutions report that will be shared at COP28 in the United Arab Emirates," said Razan Al Mubarak. President of IUCN.
See all Kiwa Initiative projects: https://kiwainitiative.org/en/projects