From November 10-21, the eyes of the world will be on the Amazonian city of Belem in Brazil and the 30th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) – better known as COP30. It is one of the most important COPs since the historic Paris Climate Agreement in 2015 as the world is way off track in terms of both mitigation and adaptation.

Referred to as the ‘Implementation COP’, the massive global gathering of governments, civil society, businesses and financial institutions must accelerate investment and action – particularly in a just energy transition, and the protection and restoration of ecosystems.

And that’s why Wetlands International is sending a delegation from across our global network. To highlight the central role of healthy wetlands – from rivers, lakes and peatlands to seagrass beds, salt marshes and mangroves – in not only mitigating climate change but also adapting to the worsening, water-related impacts across the world, such as extreme floods, storms and droughts.

During COP30, Wetlands International’s delegation on the ground in Belem (within the world’s greatest river basin…and, yes, also its largest rainforest!) as well as our offices across the globe will be working with partners to achieve five key objectives:

• Raise awareness of why wetlands are critical for climate mitigation, adaptation and resilience; and how wetlands can be incorporated into NDCS, NAPs and climate finance plans;
   
• Position wetlands as essential climate solutions and influence global and national policies, initiatives, and funding priorities to accelerate action on wetlands, including progress on finalising the Global Goal on Adaptation;
   
• Build momentum behind the three voluntary, global initiatives that Wetlands International has helped to shape – Freshwater Challenge, Mangrove Breakthrough and Peatlands Breakthrough;
   
• Showcase our expertise, tools, partnerships and proven solutions for wetland protection and restoration, including our work in Latin America from the Pantanal and Corredor Azul to the High Andean wetlands, Panama’s coastal wetlands, and the region’s peatlands – as well as our decades of engagement with Indigenous Peoples and collaboration with local communities 
   
• Build our visibility and credibility, strengthening partnerships and coalitions, and highlight urgent need for funds to accelerate wetland action – and deliver the ambitions in our new strategy. 

Along with collaborative communications, a key part of our strategy to drive impact and achieve these objectives will be participating in side events across COP30, including:

• Tuesday 11 
  • High Level Non-State Actors of Global Climate Action Agenda (9:30–10:30)
    Coenraad Krijger, Wetland International CEO will represent the Freshwater Challenge
  • Ministerial on “Waters of Change – Shaping Resilient and Sustainable Pathways” (12.50–14.20)
  • Mangrove Ministerial on Mobilizing Global Leadership and Large-Scale Finance (13:15 – 14:45)
  • Official opening of the Water4Climate pavilion
    (Wetlands International is a core partner)
    
• Wednesday 12 
  • Building Resilience through multi-stakeholder collective action Water4Climate (11:00-12:30)
  • UNFCCC side-event on “NbS for climate adaptation in the basins of rivers and lakes” (11:30 -13:00)
    
• Thursday 13 
  • NbS event at Japan pavilion (11.45-13.00)
    Presentation by Pieter van Eijk, Wetlands International, Programme Head Deltas and Coasts
    
• Friday 14 
  • “Achieving the Global Goal on Adaptation” Day at Water4Climate Pavilion 
  • Mangrove governance and Ramsar Sites as models for community conservation and climate resilience in Ocean Voices House (16.00-17.00)
    
• Saturday 15 
  • Driving synergistic implementation of Rio Conventions
  • Biodiversity and Adaptation (12:30-13:30)
    
• Monday 17 
  • High Level Wetlands Ministerial hosted by Zimbabwe Government (12:30 – 1400)
  • Nature-based Solutions High Level Implementation Roundtable (14.00-15.00)
  • The Peatland Breakthrough: A global call to unlock the power of peatlands (18.30-20.00)
    Co-hosted by Wetlands International – Coenraad speaking)
    
• Tuesday 18 
  • Implementing NAPs & NDCs: regional insights in Water4Climate Pavilion (10.00-12.00)
  • Preventing Tropical Wildfires: local leadership, national ambition and financing (16.00-20.00)
  • High Level diner on “The Amazon Welcomes the Mangrove Breakthrough” – focused on celebrating new Brazilian subnational commitments (19.30-22.00)
    
• Wednesday 19 
  • Finance to Support Forestry Actions & Real Carbon Removal Credits in China Pavilion (15.00-16.30)
    Pieter van Eijk presentation on mangrove finance