Press release
Ministers of State Malcolm Noonan and Pippa Hackett to host peatlands event at the closing of COP26
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
The Government of Ireland will host ‘Dialogues Towards a European Peatlands Initiative’ on the closing day of COP26 (12 November, 2021). This event will bring together European ministers and peatland experts for a discussion on activating stakeholders and the need for open, pan-European collaboration on peatlands restoration and management.
Event: Dialogues Towards a European Peatlands Initiative at COP26
When: 12 November 11-13 GMT
How: Register for the peatland pavilion to watch the live stream of the event: https://globalpeatlands.online/PeatlandPavilionCOP26Registration
Follow: #PeatlandsMatter
In 2019, at the United Nations Environment Assembly, countries committed to work together toward the conservation and sustainable management of peatlands articulated in the UNEA Resolution 4/16. During Dialogues Towards a European Peatlands Initiative Ministers Noonan and Hackett will be joined by government representatives from Ireland, Iceland, Germany and beyond, to will share the important lessons from their respective countries on peatlands restoration and conservation. Expert stakeholders will also outline their outlook for the future, and Ministers will discuss the benefits and challenges that future collaboration could bring.
Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan TD stated that
“conservation and restoration of the world’s peatlands are an essential component in the global challenge to tackle climate change. I look forward to sharing Ireland’s experiences and the great work being done by many stakeholders in revitalising Irish peatlands and to hearing the experiences of other countries.
In our recent Climate Action Plan, my Department committed to the ongoing restoration of Ireland’s protected raised bog network in an area of circa 22,000 hectares. As we enter the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, it is vitally important that we ensure peatlands are conserved, restored and sustainably managed for current and future generations.”
Minister of State Pippa Hackett concluded that
“these dialogues are the first step on a journey – open to all European countries and peatland actors alike – on how we can meaningfully collaborate across Europe in order to maximise the positive outcomes for all our peatlands”.
Editors Notes:
AGENDA & CONFIRMED SPEAKERS
Session Hosts:
Chair: Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan (Government of Ireland)
Moderator: Cisca Devereux, Bax & Company
Q&A: Harm Schoten, Director of Eurosite
11:00 Minister Roundtable: What can Europe learn from each other?
Minister for the Environment and Natural Resources Gudmundur Ingi Gudbrandsson (Government of Iceland)
Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity Pippa Hackett (Government of Ireland)
Minister of the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety Svenja Schulze (Government of Germany)
12:40 Expert Stakeholders: State of the Art & Future Outlook in Europe:
Franziska Tanneberger, Director of Greifswald Mire Centre
Andrew Millar, Chief Scientific Adviser to the Scottish Government
Harm Schoten, Director of Eurosite
Aldert van Weeren, Wetland Product Foundation & Farmer
Shane Regan, Eco-hydrologist, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Ireland)
Hans Schutten, Programme Head, Wetlands International
Kristina Simonaitytė (Government of Lithuania), Advisor to the Minister of Agriculture
12:30: Discussion – Q&A: How can we shape European Peatland Collaboration?
Call to action: Dianna Kopansky, Policy & Programme Expert UNEP- Global Peatlands Initiative Coordinator
Closing words: Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan (Government of Ireland)
13:00: Close of session