Climate-Soil Community of Practice 

Event: Creating an Enabling Framework for Carbon Market Projects for Soil Protection

Date: 27th -29th October 2020

Time: 13:00-17:00 CET

Venue: Interactive Webinar (MS Teams)

Hosts:

“4 per 1000” Initiative on soils for food security and climate,

GIZ Sector Project Soil Protection, Combating Desertification, Sustainable Land Management (BMZ),

GIZ Global Programme Soil protection and rehabilitation for food security (BMZ),

GIZ Support Project for the Implementation of the Paris Agreement (BMU).

Background

Healthy soils are vital for our environment and food systems. They are fundamental for food security and biodiversity, mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, and help with adaptation to the adverse impacts of climate change. Nature-based Solutions that increase the amount of soil organic carbon (SOC) can significantly reduce the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere related to human activity, while contributing to fertile soils and suitable habitats for micro and macro fauna. Herewith, they are a crucial element to meet the targets of international agendas, like the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals. Even though the potential of sustainable land management (SLM) and soil carbon is increasingly recognized at the international level, upscaling of soil-carbon practices on a broader scale is missing.

Objective

Together with the "4 per 1000" initiative, we want to promote awareness of the climate potential of sustainable land management and soil-carbon practices. Specifically, we want to advocate increased and concrete consideration of soil organic carbon in the National Determined Contributions (NDCs) and identify concrete pathways for improvement and implementation.

The "Climate-Soil Community of Practice" (CoP) disseminates information on successful land management and soil carbon projects, highlights good practices for overcoming adoption barriers and strengthens the case for sustainable land management as a key to effective climate action. While "4 per 1000" facilitates related activities at the global level, this "community of practice" focuses on development cooperation context.

Format

This CoP provides a space for actors to exchange knowledge and experience, to present their work, to learn from each other and to develop partnerships. The process for their development is catalyzed by a series of events on selected topics. In cooperation with "4 per 1000", we will provide a platform for follow-up and contact management. Once initiated, this CoP will be organized by its participants. While GIZ and "4 per 1000" will organize the event this time, other partners are invited to carry on.

Topics

The discussions and exchange formats elaborate on the climate-soil nexus. Thus far, the community has focused on the following topics:

• Voluntary carbon markets (VCM) for soil organic carbon projects
• Alignment of soil, agriculture, and climate policies
• Biochar production and application models
• Monitoring climate benefits of sustainable land management

With this event, we build on the results of previous events and follow up with a more in-depth discussion on practical approaches related to voluntary carbon markets. The event will also open the call for interested participants to get involved in shaping the community.

Upcoming event

At the upcoming event we build on the results of previous events and follow up with a more in-depth discussion on practical approaches related to voluntary carbon markets (VCM). The event will also open the call for interested participants to get involved in shaping the Community.

The sessions from 13:00 – 17:00 CET on the three consecutive afternoons will focus on:

27 Oct 2020 | 13:00-17:00 CET - The perspective of buyers and investors on the VCM for soil organic carbon

28 Oct 2020 | 13:00-17:00 CET - Insights on market-, accounting and monitoring solutions for common challenges

29 Oct 2020 | 13:00-17:00 CET - Enhancing the potential of soil within international climate mechanisms

For complete information, kindly see the Agenda attached.

 Agenda

To note, it will be possible to only attend specific sessions that you are interested in without attending the entire event.

27 October 2020: Buyers and investors perspective on the VCM for SOC

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28 October 2020: VCM: Insights on market-, and monitoring solutions for common challenges

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29 October 2020: Enhancing the potential of soil within international climate mechanisms

Small breaks are scheduled in between the sessions. If you have any questions regarding the agenda or format, please contact Fabian Rackelmann (fabian.rackelmann@giz.de) or Asil Abuassba (asil.abuassba@giz.de).