On December 12, 2024, IISD held a panel discussion at the Building Bridges conference in Geneva, Switzerland, exploring the state-of-play of nature-based investments and the potential opportunities they present. 

If you were unable to join us in person, you can watch a recording of the event here. 

Speakers

• Martin Berg, CEO, Climate Asset Management
• Aleksandra Holmlund, CEO, Qarlbo Biodiversity
• Walid Al Saqqaf, CIO and Co-founder, Rebalance Earth

Moderator

• David Uzsoki, Lead, Sustainable Finance, IISD

About Building Bridges

Building Bridges was back with its fifth edition running December 9 -12, 2024, at the Centre International de Conférences Genève (CICG) and online. 

The Building Bridges Action Days offered 65+ crowd-sourced events planned by the community in a range of formats that allow for different levels of dialogue and collaboration including panel discussions, workshops, fishbowl conversations, trainings, and case studies.

On the sidelines of the UN Climate Conference in Baku (COP 29), the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Colombia joined the international Coalition on Phasing Out Fossil Fuel Incentives Including Subsidies (COFFIS).

COFFIS is a coalition of governments working together to remove barriers and facilitate transparency toward the phase-out of fossil fuel subsidies.
It now has 16 member countries, including Austria, the federal government of Antigua and Barbuda, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

Some initial members of the coalition released their fossil fuel subsidy inventories ahead of the event.

The coalition’s secretariat is hosted by IISD.

Speakers

Patricia Fuller, President and CEO, IISD

Sophie Hermans, Minister of Climate Policy and Green Growth, the Netherlands

Wopke Hoekstra, Commissioner for Climate Action, EU

Mary Warlick, Deputy Executive Director, IEA

Stuart Horne, Climate Change Ambassador, New Zealand

Rachel Kyte, Special Representative for Climate, United Kingdom

Catherine Stewart, Climate Ambassador, Canada

About the Event

As the pace of climate ambition is gradually picking up, so are the concerns about the competitive impact on industries in the countries adopting carbon pricing. Fears about carbon—and competitiveness—leakage have created serious considerations in many capitals about the ways to address this challenge. While taxing carbon at the border (the famous Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism!) is one of them, this is not the only alternative moving forward. Multiple governments are solving a difficult puzzle where a range of trade instruments are on the table, waiting to be matched to country-specific situations. This interactive session explored the trade challenges of industrial decarbonization in a world without a global carbon price, analyzing the alternatives available to governments taking climate action while being cautious about carbon leakage: subsidies, product standards, and border carbon adjustments.

Panel

• Opening remarks: Patricia Fuller, President and CEO, IISD 
• Moderator: Alice Tipping, Director, Trade and Sustainable Development, IISD
• Panelists:
  • Jo Tyndall, Director of the Environment Directorate, OECD
  • Ardhi Wardhana, Climate & Energy Economics Researcher, CSIS
  • Benoit Desforges, Chair, Environmental Management Subcommittee on Greenhouse Gas and Climate Change Management, ISO

Beyond the Trade and Investment House: Where to find the trade team at COP 29

Future of the Steel Industry: Decarbonization, circular economy, and emerging challenges

Alice Tipping discussed BCAs as a bridge between climate action and international trade, addressing potential trade implications of multiple BCA systems and the need for international cooperation.

• When: Thursday, November 14, 2024. 17:45 AZT
• Where: Turkish Pavilion, Blue Zone
• Organized by Istanbul Mineral and Metals Exporters' Association (IMMIB), United Nations Climate Change
• Moderator: Armağan Vurdu, Secretary-General İstanbul Mineral and Metals Exporters' Associations
• Panelists:
  • Alice Tipping, Director, Trade and Sustainable Development, IISD
  • Hasan Akbulut, Technical Affairs Director, Turkish Steel Producers Association
  • Uğur Dalbeler, CEO, Çolakoğlu Group
  • Dursun Baş, Project Coordinator, İstanbul Policy Center

Using Trade to Drive Climate and Environmental Outcomes

Alice Tipping explored the alignment between trade and environmental policy, advocating for international cooperation on issues like fisheries subsidy reform and shaping trade policy to support climate adaptation.

• When: Friday, November 15, 2024. 10:30 AZT
• Where: Australian Pavilion, Blue Zone
• Organized by Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
• Moderator: James Baxter PSM, Australian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the WTO, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade 
• Panelists:
  • Alice Tipping, Director, Trade and Sustainable Development, IISD
  • Dan Esty, Professor, Yale University, School of the Environment
  • The Hon. Viliami Latu, Minister for Trade and Economic Development, Tonga

Through innovative research and engagement methods, stakeholders (including workers, civil society, and policy-makers) are helping to implement a just transition in the Global South, where coal regions face complex socio-economic challenges in light of the transition to clean energy. This COP 29 side event, hosted by the International Labour Organization Just Transition Pavilion in Baku, Azerbaijan, will convene a diverse set of speakers to illustrate practical examples (such as regional consultation forums) and tools (like simulation games) for supporting the implementation of just transition.

The event will highlight how diverse, context-specific solutions can tackle the real-world challenges of transitioning away from coal in the Global South. By focusing on practical tools from regions deeply affected by the energy transition, the session aims to inspire broader collaboration and innovative thinking among stakeholders. The event seeks to contribute to global discussions on making the energy transition socially and economically just.

Speakers

Philip Gass, Director, Energy Program, Just Transitions, International Institute for Sustainable Development

Duduzile Sibiya, Provincial Climate Change and Just Transition Coordinator, Mpumalanga, Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environmental Affairs, South Africa

Nizhar Marizi, Director for Energy Resources Minerals, and Mining, Bappenas, Indonesia

Nithi Nesadurai, Director and Regional Coordinator, Climate Action Network Southeast Asia

Jocelyn S. Medallo, Climate Policy Specialist, Solidarity Center

Timon Wehnert, Co-head of Research Unit International Energy Transitions, Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy

About the Event

In the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) processes, 2024 and 2025 represent a critical juncture where countries will submit their updated national biodiversity strategy and action plans (NBSAPs) and nationally determined contributions (NDCs), aligned with the new Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the outcome of the first global stocktake, respectively. Countries will also undertake an assessment of the process to formulate and implement national adaptation plans (NAPs) at COP 29.

In collaboration with the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) has published a new checklist for national policy-makers, “Effectively Delivering on Climate and Nature: NDCs, NAPs and NBSAPs synergies," providing practical recommendations on how national-level policy-makers could advance synergistic, just, and gender-responsive actions on climate and nature. It also illustrates potential opportunities and interactions between the different policy instruments during the development or update of their NDCs, NAPs, and NBSAPs, in order to enhance synergies and co-benefits.

This session will build on this new knowledge product and provide an interactive discussion forum for national-level policy-makers to strengthen and support national capacity for synergistic approaches to climate and biodiversity actions. The discussions will feed into future iterations of the checklist and support the development of a toolkit for enhancing synergies.

The event will be held held in the Special Event Room - Shirvan, of Area B in the Blue Zone.

Event Partners

IISD, WWF, GIZ.

The COP 28 global stocktake affirmed the need to transition away from fossil fuels. An important way to deliver on the COP 28 decision is through the next round (“third generation”) of national climate plans. These nationally determined contributions (NDCs) to the Paris Agreement are due for submission by February 10, 2025, with targets out to 2035.

Through storytelling and high-level panel discussion, this event will showcase what leading countries are doing to ensure a just transition away from fossil fuels and the challenges they are facing in doing so. Civil society experts will discuss how to overcome those challenges and advance ambition more broadly through the next round of NDCs.

Agenda

Just Transition Success Stories

Facilitator: Farooq Ullah, Senior Policy Advisor and Lead, Energy and Climate Governance, IISD

High-Level Panel Discussion

Chair: Patricia Fuller, President and CEO, IISD

Panelists:

Rachel Kyte, Special Representative for Climate, United Kingdom

Tina Stege, Climate Envoy, Marshall Islands

Riad Meddeb, Director, Sustainable Energy Hub, United Nations Development Programme

Mariana Panuncio-Feldman, Country Engagement Director, NDC Partnership

Technical Panel Discussion

Moderator: Farooq Ullah, Senior Policy Advisor and Lead, Energy and Climate Governance, IISD

Panellists:

Siân Bradley, Head, BOGA Secretariat

Arunabha Ghosh, Chief Executive Officer, CEEW

Fatima Eisam-Eldeen, Research Analyst, LINGO

Natalie Unterstell, President, Talanoa Institute

Neil Grant, Senior Climate and Energy Analyst, Climate Analytics

Niklas Höhne, Managing Director, NewClimate Institute

Audience Q&A

Photo credit: Jessica Meniere

IISD is pleased to be partnering with Climate Action for the Agri-Food Systems Summit, returning for its third annual edition as an Affiliated COP 29 Event on November 15.

This event brought together global agri-food stakeholders, including policy-makers, investors, innovators, technology providers, farmers, and executives from across the sector. It aims to explore new models of collaboration and identify innovative pathways to transform agri-food systems into sustainable and resilient models for the future. Key areas of focus include developing sustainable food chains, addressing water scarcity, mobilizing investment, and harnessing the power of innovation and technology.

IISD’s CEO, Patricia Fuller, chaired the event’s opening panel: Leading the Charge: ACF’s Progress on Food Systems Transformation, which will bring together ministers from the Alliance of Champions for Food Systems Transformation (ACF) member countries to share their achievements over the past 10 months and discuss strategic priorities for agri-food systems transformation.

Key speakers at the event included:

• Harry Boyd Carpenter, Managing Director, Climate Strategy and Delivery, EBRD
• Hilen Gabriela Meirovich, Head of Climate Change and Innovation Policy, IDB Invest
• Danielle Niesenberg, President and Co-Founder, Food Tank
• Andrea Porro, Secretary General, World Farmers’ Organisation
• Grazielle Parenti, Head Sustainability and Corporate Affairs, Syngenta
• Syngenta Dennis Rangi, Director General, CABI
• Kaveh Zahedi, Director, Office of Climate Change, FAO

About the event

Climate change affects our natural environment and can result in the loss of nature. These changes impact people in different ways depending on who they are and how their identity influences their position in society. Recent evidence shows that NbS for adaptation are more effective when gender issues are considered and delivered in a gender-responsive manner. The event will be a debate between the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and Youth4Nature regarding the integration of gender considerations into NbS for adaptation.

The debate will be introduced to the audience and a provocative debate position will be selected and shared: “Integrating gender considerations in NbS for adaptation is easy, we just aren’t trying hard enough”. One organization will argue the merits of the position, while the other will oppose it. Time will be allocated for the debaters to provide rebuttals to one another. Before wrapping up, the debaters will engage in a closing Q&A and will host a short plenary discussion with the audience on the debate position topic.

Event partners

WWF, Youth4Nature, IISD.

About the event

Nature-based solutions (NbS) are innovative approaches that can simultaneously address climate change and biodiversity loss, while strengthening resilience and adaptation efforts globally. In Sub-Saharan Africa, community collaboration is key to overcoming local challenges, and this event will showcase how Canada’s Partnering for Climate initiative, with its impressive 315 million CAD investment, is driving transformative change.

Through inspiring examples, we'll explore how NbS, grounded in gender responsiveness and inclusive governance, support global biodiversity targets, especially climate action-related Targets 8 and 11 of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. We will focus on equitable, locally relevant solutions that scale globally. We will also spotlight the ENACT Partnership and its role in advancing NbS in international policy and fostering a unified global narrative across the Rio Conventions.

Event partners

IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Global Affairs Canada, IISD.

Join this panel discussion at the 2024 National Water and Wastewater Conference hosted by the Natural Assets Initiative (NAI) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) to learn how natural infrastructure can help support cost-effective water service delivery and manage climate and other risks to water services.

Focusing on examples from the Prairies Region of Canada, you'll learn how municipalities are starting to account for, value and proactively manage natural assets like wetlands, forests, grasslands and riparian areas to support stormwater management and flood mitigation, to protect drinking water and build resilience to drought. Speakers include municipal staff from the Prairies Region and representatives from NAI and IISD.
 

Our Speakers

Dimple Roy is the Director of Water Management at the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), where she leads global and Canadian water policy research and directs the Natural Infrastructure for Water Solutions (NIWS) initiative. With over 20 years of experience, she specializes in sustainable agriculture, climate adaptation, and natural infrastructure. Dimple has worked internationally, from scaling up natural infrastructure in Canada to analyzing irrigation subsidies in India and advising science networks in the African Great Lakes. Her focus is on improving evidence-based decision-making that incorporates economic, social, and environmental factors in water management. 

Roy Brooke is the Executive Director of the Natural Assets Initiative (NAI), a national non-profit. Roy helps local governments and others take action on their natural assets, and recognize the value of nature for risk management and delivering resilient infrastructure services. Roy has worked in Canada, Europe and Africa in urban sustainability, national politics, international development and humanitarian affairs. He served as Director of Sustainability for the City of Victoria from 2011 to 2013, and for the United Nations between 2003 and 2011. 

Duane Nicol is the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for the City of Selkirk, Manitoba. Prior becoming the CAO (city manager) in May of 2014, Duane was a three-term city councillor from 2002 to 2014, serving 2 years as Deputy Mayor. During that time, he was the driving force behind the establishment of Selkirk’s public transit system. Duane has an honours degree in political studies from the University of Manitoba, an honours Business Analyst certificate from Red River College, a Professional Certificate in Asset Management Planning from the IPWEA and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Victoria. Under his leadership, Selkirk has become recognized for its environmental stewardship and progressive, award-winning approach to managing municipal infrastructure. Duane is the Past President of the Manitoba Municipal Administrators, teaches Leadership in Municipal Management at the University of Manitoba, serves as Vice-Chair of Efficiency Manitoba, and is an advocate for asset management and climate action in Manitoba’s municipal sector.

Our Moderator

Carl Bodimeade is a Senior Consultant with Hatch Infrastructure, based in Ontario, Canada. He has over 40 years of experience in project management, engineering and planning for a wide range of projects in the water & wastewater, urban infrastructure and brownfield development, and power sectors. Carl is regularly invited to moderate and participate in expert panels on subjects such as infrastructure funding, the value of water, sustainability and urban resiliency. He is currently the Chair of CWWA’s Utility Leadership Committee.

Resources:

• State of Play Report for Natural Infrastructure on the Canadian Prairies (IISD)
• Natural Infrastructure and Prairie Prosperity (IISD)
• Guide: Planning with Nature in the Prairies (NAI)
• Guide: Nature is Infrastructure - How to include natural assets in asset management plans (NAI)
• Guide: Developing Levels of Service for Natural Assets (NAI)
• Towards a Collaborative Strategy for Municipal Natural Asset Management: Private Lands (NAI)
• Selkirk ‘exemplary example’ of a prairie community preparing for changing climate using innovative and natural infrastructure (City of Selkirk)
• City of Selkirk Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (City of Selkirk)
• City of Selkirk Capital Asset Management (City of Selkirk)
• Financing for Natural Infrastructure Projects (IISD)
• Estimate of Natural Infrastructure Public Grant Funding in Canada and in the Canadian Prairies (IISD)
• A Scan of Natural Infrastructure Approaches (IISD)
• Land, Water & Natural Resources Inventory with WMR and Southern Chiefs' Organization (Treaty 1 Territory) 
• City of Edmonton Natural Asset Management project 
• City of Saskatoon Natural Asset Management project
• IISD's Natural Infrastructure for Water Solutions (NIWS)
• Natural Assets Initiative (NAI)

Thanks to our panel partner:

Funded in part by: