At COP16 Colombia, Razan Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28, had the honor of sharing the opening remarks at the “Linking Sustainable Ocean Plans (SOPs) with the Global Biodiversity Framework” event, organized by CAF, WRI, Ocean Action 2030, High Level Panel and World Economic Forum. This session underscored the critical connections between Ocean Health and Climate Action, key factors in building a resilient future. Additionally, she announced the 100% Alliance and launched the New Blue Paper on Indigenous and Traditional Knowledge in Sustainable Ocean Practices, on behalf of the Ocean Panel, in her role as the UAE President’s Sherpa.
Ms. Al Mubarak also joined the “Ministerial Event on Leaders Protecting Forests” discussing synergies between the Rio Conventions and Financing Forests, including initiatives such as the Tropical Forest Finance Facility, Country Packages, and Debt-for-Nature Instruments. The TFFF High-Level Dialogue brought together key ministers including Colombia’s Susana Muhamed and Brazil’s Marina Silva. This historic ambition announced by President Lula at COP28 UAE started as an incredible dream and Ms. Al Mubarak is delighted to see it become a reality. Business as usual approaches to financing ecosystem services are not sufficient and must be disrupted. TFFF is an audacious response to this: an approach that not only values standing forests for their ability to store carbon, but also on their ability to provide ecosystem services, and support lives and livelihoods and simultaneously address the need for long term finance flows for their protection in perpetuity.
Finally, Ms. Al Mubarak addressed the IP Caucus IIFB (International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity), where she expressed support for the establishment of an Indigenous Peoples’ subsidiary body and a joint work programme under Article 8J. Ms. Al Mubarak reaffirmed her strong advocacy for Indigenous Peoples’ rights and direct access to finance for conservation initiatives.