Rainforests, nature and biodiversity at COP30

Agile is at COP30 in Brazil represented by the head of Oxford University’s delegation Dr Erika Berenguer (Sprint lead on How can we fireproof the Amazon?), deputy head Dr Aline Sotteroni (Sprint lead on How can Brazil reach Net Zero emissions?), and Agile Director Professor Nathalie Seddon (Sprint co-lead on How do we scale up nature-based solutions?).

On 11th November, Oxford University teamed up with the SOS Atlantic Forest Foundation, WWF and Greenpeace to present the session “From Trade-offs to Synergies: Aligning Climate and Biodiversity Policies” at COP30. Professor Seddon said, “We must work in partnership with Indigenous and local communities to understand and address these issues, in the knowledge that we cannot relentlessly mine and industrialise the biosphere in the name of cooling the planet”. You can read a summary of the session here: https://enb.iisd.org/climate-biodiversity-alignment-COP30

Dr Berenguer and Dr Sotteroni were interviewed at COP30 by Sumaúma for an article “Dousing the flames: Two scientists share Amazon fire knowledge”. Read it here: https://sumauma.com/en/entre-as-cicatrizes-do-fogo-as-licoes-de-duas-cientistas-para-prevenir-incendios-na-amazonia/

In the run up to COP30, the Oxford Martin School hosted an event arranged by Dr Berenguer, Dr Sotteroni and Professor Seddon. The event, Enabling Opportunities for Forest Protection and Climate Action at COP30, weclomed Antonio Patriota (Ambassador of Brazil to the United Kingdom) and others to speak on the importance of rainforest fire prevention and protection. Read a summary of the event here: https://www.eci.ox.ac.uk/news/pre-cop-dialogue-oxford-cements-eci-and-brazil-partnership-forest-conservation-and-climate