Events @ COP28

This page will continue to be updated with information on the events we’ll be hosting in our presentation space, as well as events across the conference featuring our experts as speakers.

Visit the Permafrost Pathways website for a full list of Arctic and permafrost events that project members are hosting or participating in.

Our meeting and presentation space is in zone B7, building 87 (see map).

THURS 11/30  |  Woodwell Climate Open House READ MOREless

B7 Bldg 87  – Woodwell Climate Meeting and Presentation Space

2-6pm GST

FRI 12/1  |  Woodwell Climate Welcome Event & Reception READ MOREless

What’s at stake for COP28?

B7 Bldg 87  – Woodwell Climate Meeting and Presentation Space

4-6pm GST

The speakers will discuss what’s at stake for COP28, from the new Loss and Damage fund to the Article 6.4 carbon market to the first Global Stocktake report. They will also share how their organizations aim to raise ambitions for COP28 further. Following the Welcome Event, we will host a reception to celebrate the beginning of COP28.

 

Speakers

  • Dr. R. Max Holmes, President & CEO, Woodwell Climate Research Center
  • Stéphanie Mbombo, President Special Envoy for New Climate Economy in the DRC
  • Daniel Bresette, President, Environmental and Energy Study Institute
SAT 12/2  |  Investing In Indigenous Peoples’ Climate Solutions READ MOREless

B7 Bldg 87  – Woodwell Climate Meeting and Presentation Space

2-3:30pm GST

Indigenous Peoples are the experts and know best how to protect rainforests, yet less than 1% of global climate funding goes to fund their solutions. Come learn from a panel of experts about rainforest communities solutions, how we can effectively measure impact, and the mechanisms for change to shift more climate funding directly into these solutions.

 

Speakers

SUN 12/3 3pm  |  UNFCCC Side Event: The Science Behind Carbon Markets READ MOREless

SE Room 4

3-4:30pm GST; 6-7:30am ET

Carbon markets are drawing growing interest as a tool to increase investment in natural climate solutions, but markets must be supported by rigorous science to ensure they provide a climate benefit. We will explore the science behind carbon markets, and steps to increase confidence in this sector.

A livestream will be available during the event, with the recording posted afterwards.

 

Speakers

  • Daniel Bresette, President, Environmental and Energy Study Institute
  • Dr. Wayne Walker, Woodwell Climate Research Center
  • Serena McIlwain, Maryland Environment Secretary
  • Rachel Lamb, Senior Climate Advisor, Maryland Department of the Environment
  • Jad Daley, President and CEO, American Forests
  • Maya Solomon, Director of Policy and Advocacy, American Forest Foundation
MON 12/4 ALL DAY  |  Permafrost Day at the Cryosphere Pavilion READ MOREless

B6 Bldg 71 – Cryosphere Pavilion Presentation Space

All day

View schedule on Permafrost Pathways’ website.

Permafrost Pathways is a proud co-organizer of Permafrost Day at COP28, hosted by colleagues at the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative (ICCI). A whole-day program covers the local to global implications of thawing ground across the Arctic permafrost region.

MON 12/4 10am  |  Nature, Capital and Carbon Markets: Getting it right to scale impact READ MOREless

Presented in collaboration with the Sun Valley Forum

B7 Bldg 87  – Woodwell Climate Meeting and Presentation Space

10-11am GST

The protection and restoration of nature is critical for human survival, providing both climate mitigation and adaptation, yet our financial system does not value nature nor the ecosystem services it provides. Can carbon markets deliver for nature, ensuring they deliver the promised impact? Join experts across science, carbon markets, finance, and business for a deep dive discussion and recommendations for how doing it right can reach the scale needed.

Speakers

MON 12/4 11am  |  Climate Risks: Fusing Security, Science & Storytelling READ MOREless

Presented in collaboration with the Center for Climate and Security

B7 Bldg 87  – Woodwell Climate Meeting and Presentation Space

11am-12pm GST

A round table discussion on the diverse pathways through which climate hazards can drive risks of instability and insecurity, and how better partnerships between science and security actors can lead to more sophisticated analysis of risks and opportunities associated with such risks.

Speakers

  • David McGlinchey, Chief of Government Relations, Woodwell Climate Research Center
  • Erin Sikorsky, Director, The Center for Climate and Security, Director, The International Military Council on Climate and Security
  • Elsa Barron, Research Fellow Center for Climate and Security
TUES 12/5 9am  |  Synergies in regenerative agriculture in the global south: Can we move together? READ MOREless

Presented in collaboration with IPAM Amazônia

B7 Bldg 87  – Woodwell Climate Meeting and Presentation Space

9am GST

This panel will delve into the potential of regenerative agriculture practices to transform tropical agriculture, examining case studies from India, DRC, and South America. The discussion will explore diverse regional conditions, showcase initiatives, and pinpoint policy needs, and consider how to establish global synergies, collaborations, and support systems for scaling up regenerative agriculture. The participants, drawing from their diverse backgrounds, will deliberate on fostering international cooperation, leveraging technology, engaging consumers, and addressing environmental and socioeconomic implications.

Speakers

  • Abay Yimere, Tufts University
  • Dr. Wayne Walker, Woodwell Climate Research Center
  • Aimé MBUYI KALOMBO, Chief of the Division of Climate Change, Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development
  • Juliana Lopes, AMAGGI
  • Marcello Brito, Secretary General, Brazilian Amazonian States Consortium
TUES 12/5 10:30am  |  Financial solutions targeting tropical deforestation reduction and food production READ MOREless

B7 Bldg 87  – Woodwell Climate Meeting and Presentation Space

10:30am GST

Against the backdrop of growing concerns regarding tropical deforestation’s impact on climate change and sustainable food production, this panel seeks to address key questions. The discussion encompasses the role of international cooperation, climate finance, and private sector engagement in supporting these mechanisms while safeguarding the rights of local communities and indigenous peoples. Measuring success, ensuring transparency, and aligning financial mechanisms with broader climate goals are vital considerations. Insights from past experiences and existing initiatives will inform the conversation, ultimately striving to shape equitable and impactful solutions to these pressing global challenges.

Speakers

  • Dr. Michael Coe, Tropics Program Director, Woodwell Climate Research Center
  • Frances Seymour, Forests Advisor in the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate
  • Lucimar Souza, IPAM
  • Mariana Barbosa, Director of Legal and Institutional Affairs, Re.Green
  • William Sisson, WBCSD’s Executive Director for North America
TUES 12/5 12pm  |  Arctic Research, Indigenous Rights, and Co-production of Knowledge READ MOREless

Fostering Collaboration Across Disciplines to Share the Story of a Changing Arctic Landscape

B7 Bldg 87  – Woodwell Climate Meeting and Presentation Space

12-1pm GST

A cooperative approach to understanding and communicating Arctic Change, including permafrost thaw process and impacts, has proven more likely to produce meaningful research and positive policy interventions in the Arctic. This session will focus on:

  1. Principles of knowledge co-production in the permafrost region–an alternative approach to data collection, environmental monitoring, and climate resilience that utilizes Western science, Indigenous knowledge, and local observations and which is led by affected communities and
  2. Innovative approaches to communicating these findings via storytelling and co-produced mediums.

The discussion will provide anecdotes from across the Circumpolar North: for example, western-trained scientists are collaborating with Alaska Native communities to help inform decisions around managed retreat and community-driven relocation, and documentary filmmaking is bringing to life the climate impacts and experiences of Indigenous Arctic communities responding to these changes. The session will invite discussion of how policymakers, scientists, and artists can help to co-create equitable, Indigenous-led observation platforms, robust environmental-health interventions, and climate adaptation plans in response to permafrost thaw and other rapid Arctic changes.

Speakers

  • Dr. Susan Natali,  Permafrost Pathways – Woodwell Climate
  • Kelly Moneymaker, Social/Climate Justice Activist, Indigenous Filmmaker and Musician
  • Chief Gary Harrison, Traditional Chief of Nay’dini’aa Na’ Kayax’ (Chickaloon Village), Alaska, and Tribal Chairman of Chickaloon Village Traditional Council, Co-founder of the Arctic Athabaskan Council
  • Chief Bill Erasmus, Canadian Chair of the Arctic Athabaskan Council, Honorary National Chief of the Dene Nation for Life
  • Claire Treat (moderator), Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research
TUES 12/5 4pm  |  Science, technology, and policy responses to anticipate, reduce, and respond to risk in a diverse and rapidly changing Arctic (reception to follow) READ MOREless

Co-hosted by Google.org and Permafrost Discovery Gateway

B7 Bldg 87  – Woodwell Climate Meeting and Presentation Space

4-5pm GST

Reception to follow

The Arctic is warming at least three times faster than the global average, posing existential risks at both local and global scales. For millions of Arctic residents, dramatic landscape changes due to permafrost thaw and other  climate hazards pose a major security risk—threatening both physical  infrastructure and also traditional ways of life for Arctic communities. For the rest of the globe, thawing permafrost represents a significant source of greenhouse emissions, the impacts of which further undermine the safety and stability of global ecosystems. Despite recognition of these risks, the size and heterogeneity of the Arctic makes monitoring, predicting, and responding to rapid change extremely challenging. Fortunately, new advances in science and technology, including cutting-edge AI computing, are enabling governments to close information gaps, improve projections of future Arctic changes, and develop responsive policy. This panel highlights ongoing  efforts from Western-trained scientists, the private sector, and the US government to  inform governance for  a safer and more resilient Arctic. 

Following the panel discussion, there will be a brief performance by Kelly Moneymaker and a reception to celebrate our $5M grant from Google.org. Refreshments will be provided.

Speakers

  • Dr. R. Max Holmes, President & CEO – Woodwell Climate Research Center
  • Dr. Susan Natali,  Permafrost Pathways – Woodwell Climate
  • Brigitte Hoyer Gosselink, Head of Product Impact at Google.org
  • Iris A. Ferguson, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Arctic and Global Resilience, US Department of Defense
  • Kelly Moneymaker, Social/Climate Justice Activist, Indigenous Filmmaker and Musician
  • Dr. Heather Goldstone (moderator), Woodwell Climate Research Center
TUES 12/5 4:30pm  |  Climate Risk in the DRC READ MOREless

The intersection between adaptation and mitigation, and implications for developing the New Climate Economy

Hosted by the DRC Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development

B2 Bldg 20 – DRC Pavilion

4:30-5:30pm GST

The impacts of climate change on the frequency and severity of physical hazards are putting many communities at risk, jeopardizing plans for economic growth and poverty alleviation. As the threat of climate change grows, so too does the need for accessible information, tools, and expertise to support climate-resilient decision making across multiple scales, from communities to countries.

This moderated panel discussion examines the results of recent detailed national climate risk analysis and discusses them in context of emerging priority critical policy and management pathways to a green economy.

Speakers

  • Joseph Zambo (moderator), Woodwell Climate Research Center
  • Benjamin Toirambe, DRC Secretary-General of the Environment 
  • Prof. Mutshali, University of Kinshasa
  • Dr. Glenn Bush, Woodwell Climate Research Center
  • Stephanie Mbombo, DRC President’s Special Envoy Climate Change
WED 12/6 9am  |  Mitigating Climate-Related Losses in Traditional Livelihoods READ MOREless

Presented in collaboration with IPAM Amazônia

B7 Bldg 87  – Woodwell Climate Meeting and Presentation Space

9-10:30am GST

This panel focuses on initiatives and policies aimed at reducing climate-related losses in traditional livelihoods, such as those related to agriculture, fisheries, and forestry. Traditional livelihoods are often at the frontline of climate change impacts. These livelihoods are deeply intertwined with local ecosystems and are vulnerable to the disruptions caused by changing weather patterns, extreme events, and environmental degradation. Losses in these sectors can have devastating consequences for local communities, their food security, and their economic stability. To address these challenges, various initiatives and policies have been developed at local, national, and international levels. These efforts aim to reduce climate-related losses and enhance the resilience of traditional livelihoods in the face of climate change.

Speakers

  • Ane Alencar, IPAM
  • Kanaiaku Kamaiurá, Xingu Indigenous Reserve
  • Margareth Mistry, Equinor
  • Lucimar Souza, Deputy Director, Territorial Development at IPAM
  • Joseph Zambo,  Project Equateur – Woodwell Climate
  • Selma Dealdina, CONAC
WED 12/6 1pm  |  Arctic Climate, Energy, and Geopolitics READ MOREless

B7 Bldg 87  – Woodwell Climate Meeting and Presentation Space

1-2pm GST

Against the backdrop of a rapidly warming Arctic, this discussion will bring together Arctic-focused policy experts, Arctic scientists, and government representatives from Arctic states to discuss ongoing efforts to promote equitable, forward-looking adaptation and mitigation solutions in the North. Speakers will provide details on the most drastic climate impacts on the Arctic region, including permafrost thaw, which presents both local risks to Arctic communities and global import for carbon budgets and climate change response. The panel will consider how this reality is nevertheless inspiring solutions—catalyzing energy-sector, geopolitical, technical, scientific, and policy advances informed by multi-disciplinary collaboration and co-production of knowledge.

Speakers

  • Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, Former President of Iceland
  • Dr. Sue Natali, Permafrost Pathways – Woodwell Climate 
  • Meghan O’Sullivan, Belfer Center, Harvard Kennedy School
  • Halla Hrund Logadóttir, National Energy Authority of Iceland
  • Kate Guy, US State Department
  • Heather Goldstone (Moderator), Woodwell Climate Research Center
WED 12/6 2pm  |  Bringing Climate Risk to the Heart of Finance READ MOREless

Presented in collaboration with the Sun Valley Forum

B7 Bldg 87  – Woodwell Climate Meeting and Presentation Space

2-3pm GST

Financial markets do not yet reflect the full potential impact of climate change, both due to lack of quality, trusted data, guidance and standards. Join scientists, finance leaders and data experts to understand the state of climate risk in finance and how we can advance the integration of climate risk and action to address it in finance.

 

Speakers

  • David McGlinchey, Chief of Government Relations
  • Aimée Christensen, Founder, Christensen Global & Sun Valley Forum
  • Vijay Vaitheeswaran, Global Climate and Energy Innovation Editor, the Economist
  • John White, Head of EMEA, Riskthinking.Ai
  • Stacy Swann, Founder and CEO, Resilient Earth Capital, and Climate Council, US EXIM Bank
  • Sarabeth Brockley, Head of Carbon Strategy & Lead ESG Advisor, Capital Access Platforms, Nasdaq
  • Cyril Garcia, Head of Global Sustainability Services and Corporate Responsibility – Member of the Group Executive Board, Capgemini
WED 12/6 4pm  |  The Next Generation of Climate Researchers READ MOREless

B7 Bldg 87  – Woodwell Climate Meeting and Presentation Space

4-5pm GST

The Early Career Event will bring together six professionals/students early in their climate careers to share their current area of work. Participants will vary in career path, area of research, and geographic/institutional background, aiming to provide a broad overview of the ways in which young people have turned a passion for climate action into a career.

Speakers

  • David McGlinchey, Woodwell Climate Research Center
  • Sharon Gakii, co-founder, International Consortium on Climate and Biodiversity (ICCB)
  • Tashinga Chikomba, African Youth Initiative/Climate Change Zimbabwe
  • Cristina Arnes Sanz, MPH student – Yale University
  • Eesha Rangani, PhD student – University of Southern California
  • Selin Goren, student – Yale University; co-founder – Fridays for Future Turkey
WED 12/6 6pm  |  Woodwell-IPAM MOU Renewal Reception READ MOREless

B7 Bldg 87  – Woodwell Climate Meeting and Presentation Space

6-7pm GST

Refreshments will be served

Come join us to celebrate the renewal of the memorandum of understanding between Woodwell Climate Research Center and the Amazon Institute of Environmental Research. Our organizations have worked together for more than 30 years supporting tropical forest conservation in Brazil. We are excited to have a reception with friends to reminisce about past collaborations and dream of our future together.

FRI 12/8 11am  |  Innovation in Nature-based Solutions: Unleashing the Scale for Climate Action READ MOREless

Presented in collaboration with re.green

B7 Bldg 87  – Woodwell Climate Meeting and Presentation Space

11am GST

Nature is essential for climate action, with nature-based solutions accounting for
at least 30% of climate mitigation. In the context of rapidly accelerating climate change, the imperative to innovate becomes evident — finding swift, novel solutions, exploring innovative approaches to territorial engagement, and devising fresh methods for financing and certifying projects. Innovation is indeed a crucial enabling condition to ensure the scale in nature-based solutions necessary to address climate challenges. There are innovative initiatives that are building a bright path to establishing a new way of interacting with nature. In this panel, we will discuss innovative cases related to community engagement, financing, monitoring, and research.

Speakers

TUES 12/8 3:00pm  |  From Risk to Resilience in the DRC READ MOREless

The intersection between adaptation and mitigation, and implications for developing the New Climate Economy

B2 Bldg 20 – DRC Pavilion

3:00-4:00pm GST

The impacts of climate change on the frequency and severity of physical hazards are putting many communities at risk, jeopardizing plans for economic growth and poverty alleviation. As the threat of climate change grows, so too does the need for accessible information, tools, and expertise to support climate-resilient decision making across multiple scales, from communities to countries.

This moderated panel discussion examines the results of recent detailed national climate risk analysis and discusses them in context of emerging priority critical policy and management pathways to a green economy.

Speakers

  • Joseph Zambo (moderator), Woodwell Climate Research Center
  • Benjamin Toirambe, DRC Secretary-General of the Environment 
  • Prof. Mutshali, University of Kinshasa
  • Dr. Glenn Bush, Woodwell Climate Research Center
  • Stephanie Mbombo, DRC President’s Special Envoy Climate Change
SAT 12/9 12pm  |  Addis Ababa Climate Risk Assessment READ MOREless

B7 Bldg 87  – Woodwell Climate Meeting and Presentation Space

12pm GST

The impacts of climate change on the frequency and severity of physical hazards are putting many communities at risk, jeopardizing plans for economic growth and poverty alleviation. As the threat of climate change grows, so too does the need for accessible information, tools, and expertise to support climate-resilient decision making across multiple scales, from communities to countries. This moderated panel discussion examines the results of a recently released climate risk analysis for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia between the Woodwell Climate Research Center and Tufts University.

Speakers

SAT 12/9 1:30  |  Science to adapt agriculture to a changing climate READ MOREless

The role of Tropical Regenerative Agriculture

B7 Bldg 87  – Woodwell Climate Meeting and Presentation Space

1:30-2:30pm GST

In a global context of increasing concerns about sustainability and climate change, regenerative agriculture gains prominence, particularly in tropical regions where Latin America plays a crucial role.

Speakers

SAT 12/9 4:30  |  The Amazon Chronicles: Stories of Conservation, Collaboration, and Change from stakeholders READ MOREless

B7 Bldg 87  – Woodwell Climate Meeting and Presentation Space

4:30-6:30pm GST

Brazil’s Amazon, spanning an area equivalent to the continental United States, stands as a global treasure—a vast carbon reservoir, a generator of essential rainfall, and a haven for unparalleled biodiversity. However, this ecological sanctuary is under siege from illegal activities such as land clearing, logging, and mining, resulting in irreversible damage to the environment and the well-being of Indigenous peoples and local communities.

IPAM Amazônia (IPAM) and Woodwell Climate Research Center, united by a nearly 30-year history, bring forth compelling evidence that underscores the urgency of preserving and restoring the Amazon. Acknowledging the complexity of the deforestation challenge, we have identified four pivotal groups contributing to this issue: smallholders and local communities, large industrial agriculture, indigenous peoples, and federal/state governments.

To amplify the urgency of our collective responsibility in safeguarding the Amazon, this COP discussion will unfold in two distinct sections:

Stakeholder Stories: Immerse yourself in firsthand narratives from individuals representing the identified groups. These stories will unveil the challenges faced by each stakeholder, emphasizing the interconnected roles played in preserving the Amazon’s future.

Scientific Inquiry: Engage in an interactive session where scientists from around the world will pose questions to the panelists. As we navigate the complexities of deforestation, the focus will be on understanding how these stakeholders contribute to the preservation efforts and how we, as a collective, can support their crucial work.

Our strategy involves tailored solutions for each group, with the aim of creating a comprehensive, landscape-wide impact. Join us in this crucial initiative to preserve and restore a vital ecosystem that sustains life on Earth. Together, let’s take decisive action for the future of the Amazon and the global environment.

Speakers

  • Izabella Teixeira (moderator), Woodwell Climate Research Center
  • Sônia Guajajara, Minister of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil
  • José Mauro de Lima O’ de Almeida, State Secretary for Environment and Sustainability, Pará, Brasil
  • Liège Vergili Correia, Sustainability Director Friboi, representative of the Associação Brasileira do Agronegócio
  • Selma Dealdina, CONAQ
  • Eugênio Pantoja, Senior Director of Public Policy and Territorial Development, IPAM
  • Onesphore Mutshail Kavul, UNIKIN
SUN 12/10 2:00pm  |  The Power of Investing in Food System Transformation READ MOREless

Presented in collaboration with the Sun Valley Forum

B7 Bldg 87  – Woodwell Climate Meeting and Presentation Space

2:00-3pm GST

The food system is the single greatest source of anthropogenic methane emissions as well as cause of transgression of the Planetary Boundaries. It is urgent that we ensure a rapid, just transition of food just as we are doing for energy. Aligning capital, policies, and innovation are all critical, and just as with energy, so is personal behavior and purchasing. Join this panel of investors, scientists and practitioners who are pioneering and scaling solutions.

Speakers

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