Radolfzell on November 8, 2024: Lakes and wetlands represent one of the most powerful Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for climate change mitigation and adaptation. Despite being underutilized, they are highly efficient carbon sinks that store three to five times more CO2 than tropical forests. Furthermore, as natural buffers,wetlands play a critical role in reducing the vulnerability of human and natural systems to climate extremes. Coastal wetlands, such as mangroves, shield shorelines from rising sea levels and storm surges, while inland wetlands mitigate flooding and droughts by regulating water flows.
On the occasion of the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) hosted in Baku (Azerbaijan) from 11-22 November 2024,
the Living Lakes Network calls for urgent action to prioritize wetlands restoration as a strategic climate solution. At COP29, "we urge Parties to integrate wetland restoration into their Nationally Determined Contributions, ensuring that wetland-based NbS are recognized as a vital component of national climate plans", says Thomas Schaefer, Head of Living Lakes.
WHY DO WE NEED TO RESTORE LAKES?
In a
position paper endorsed by more than 130 organisations from around 60 countries working on conserving lakes and wetlands, Living Lakes argues that "Implementing large-scale wetland restoration can significantly contribute to achieving the 1.5°C target under the Paris Agreement".
Wetlands and lakes have a high blue/teal carbon sequestration potential when in a good environmental status and effectively managed, and are a powerful tool to address environmental, climatic, and socio-economic challenges. Degraded wetlands can, however, become carbon emission sources, proving that the conservation, effective management, and restoration of wetlands are effective low-cost nature-based solutions against the impacts of climate change, including water scarcity.
The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), underlines that 85 % of lakes and wetlands are destroyed or heavily degraded. "We must implement bold actions now that recognize the invaluable role of wetlands. By prioritizing the restoration and conservation of wetlands, Parties can take a significant step toward meeting global climate goals and securing a sustainable future for all", says Thomas Schaefer.
INTEGRATING LAKES AND WETLANDS ACROSS CLIMATE, BIODIVERSITY, AND LAND DEGRADATION FRAMEWORKS
Wetland conservation and restoration contributes to facing the climate crisis and is also inherently linked to broader global objectives addressing biodiversity loss and land degradation, becoming a key component in the frameworks of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
A key issue at COP29 will be finance, which is essential for countries to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect lives and livelihoods from the increasing impacts of climate change. Living Lakes targeted climate finance for lake and wetland restoration,
especially in developing countries where wetlands provide critical ecosystem services to vulnerable populations. Furthermore, the member organisations on the international community to include credits based on wetland restoration in voluntary carbon markets as a solution that contributes to mitigating climate change while enhancing biodiversity.
The Living Lakes Network warns that this transition to a low-carbon economy cannot be made without the involvement of indigenous peoples, local communities, women, and youth, who depend on these ecosystems for their livelihoods and cultural practices; nearly one billion people live within 5 km of a lake, and in Official Development Aid countries most of them depend on drinking water from these freshwaters. In 2020, 122 million people relied on untreated surface drinking water sources globally only. These populations are at immediate risk of exposure to water-borne diseases, toxins, and harmful chemicals.
Therefore, Living Lakes urges Parties to include lakes and wetlands as an essential NbS to mitigate and adapt to climate change, to foster adequate finance to restore and maintain wetlands, and to incorporate the specific recommendations described in the
position paper within the COP29 agreements.
Contact
Global Nature Fund (GNF)
International Foundation for Environment and Nature
Dr. Thomas Schaefer
Head of Nature Conservation, Living Lakes & Water
Fritz-Reichle-Ring 4
78315 Radolfzell, Germany
Phone: +49 0176 64 799 699
E-mail: schaefer@globalnature.org
www.globalnature.org