COP28, after a weak, messy and unbalanced draft has agreed on what is seen as a landmark deal to ‘transition away from fossil fuels’. That this has been agreed by all countries within a fossil fuel region is significant. But of importance is the nuance of the words to ‘transition away’. The emphasis is not just on fossil fuel supply, but on all sectors, on us in the built environment as fossil fuel demand users to transition away. And seeking the regenerative potentials here, to transition towards low energy and renewable source possibilities.
These agreements are important, as without the Paris agreement in 2015 we would not be addressing carbon globally and in most organisations in the way we are today. This agreement could herald a new emphasis for action, built around ‘transitioning’.
Yet, we also need to pick up on the announcement from The Joint Statement on Climate, Nature and People that signified a call for accelerated implementation of climate and nature action alignment. This aligns so well with what we are doing at Living Future Europe we see it as something to celebrate.
Back in 2022 at COP27 in Egypt, in the UN Climate Action Zone, LFE (Martin Brown, Carlo Battisti) and Amira Ayoub staged the Storms or Starlight interactive session with a core message that “if we work with nature, truly work with nature, we will find she can do a lot of the decarbonisation heavy lifting for us”
COP27 was quickly followed by the Biodiversity COP15 that led to the Kunming – Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Agreement (to reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 and halt by 2050, and 30by30 to protect 30% of land and sea by 2030)
“Put bluntly, we will not succeed in meeting the goals of either the Paris Agreement or the Global Biodiversity Framework unless we start truly responding to climate change and biodiversity loss as parts of one planetary emergency. With 2030 rapidly approaching, we are running out of time to secure a transition to a nature-positive world and meet our climate goals.” (CBD Action Agenda Champion Manuel Pulgar-Vidal at COP28)
High-Level Champions, as part of the Nature-Positive for Climate Action campaign, are calling on companies, cities, financial institutions, and regions to integrate nature in climate transition plans and to invest in Nature-based solutions (NbS) in line with the nature criteria and leadership practices of Race to Zero, (that nature – restored, protected, and inclusively managed – is not just an environmental asset but a cornerstone for economic and social resilience)
“Even if we phase out all fossil fuels, if we do not get involved in nature, the destruction of natural landscapes and habitats can make us lose what we all have agreed on as the safe future for humanity on Earth – that is, to stay within the 1.5C limit. It is really decisive, that we get it right on nature.” – Johan Rockström
Our ‘regenerative age’ work (*) , programmes, advisory services and research (founded on the Living Building Challenge principles) are well placed to support organisations and projects on their journeys of aligning climate and ecological approaches as one interconnected and vital imperative.
COP28 JOINT STATEMENT ON CLIMATE, NATURE AND PEOPLE
There are 5 objectives:
- Fostering stronger synergies, integration and alignment in the planning and implementation of national climate, biodiversity and land restoration plans and strategies.
- Scaling of finance and investments for climate and nature
- Ensuring the full, equitable, inclusive, and effective representation and participation of indigenous peoples, local communities, women, girls, youth….
- Promoting a whole-of-society approach in the synergetic planning and implementation of national climate, biodiversity and land restoration plans and strategies
- Encouraging coherence and interoperability across data sources and data collection, metrics and methodologies, and voluntary reporting frameworks for climate change, biodiversity, and sustainable land management efforts.
If you are looking to explore aligning climate and nature approaches then we are here to have that conversation. We are also internationally respected keynote speakers on these regenerative themes for your in-house or public-facing events.
(*) Living Future Europe programmes include our Regenerative + Agile Masterclass, The Biophilic Society (network, summit and meets), Just, Live Project and Organisation support and Regenerative events hosting and keynotes.
[Banner photo by ZQ Lee – article photo by Matt Palmer on Unsplash]
