I’m pleased to take this opportunity to introduce myself and the Friends of Ecosystem-based Adaptation (FEBA) network!
I work at IUCN as a Programme Officer of the Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) team, based in Washington D.C. Since coining the term EbA in 2008, IUCN’s leadership and support for the concept of EbA has paved the way for the wide uptake of working with nature as a cornerstone of adaptation strategies, addressing climate risks, the biodiversity crisis, and human well-being. Healthy ecosystems lay the foundation for sustainable economic development, food and water security, disaster risk reduction and climate action.
I also serve as the coordinator for FEBA, a global collaborative network of 80+ organisations working jointly to share experiences and knowledge, to improve the implementation of EbA related activities on the ground, and to have a stronger and more strategic learning and policy influence on EbA. FEBA works to synthesize multi-stakeholder knowledge on EbA, disseminate this knowledge by convening the global EbA community around high-level events, technical workshops, and expert working groups, and raise awareness and understanding of EbA in multilateral policy frameworks. The CBD COP recognizes FEBA as a key partner “to support Parties in their efforts to promote ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation” (Decision 14/5).
FEBA hosts an active mailing list, joint events and meetings at major international conferences, and collaborative working groups on priority topics for EbA knowledge generation and policy informing. If you’re interested in joining FEBA, please reach out to me directly via email at Emily.Goodwin@iucn.org!
Best Regards, Emily Goodwin
Network News
JUN-JUL UPDATE
Global Adaptation Network - GAN has formally become a member of the FEBA network, and we’re truly excited about this new partnership!
As part of the UNDP-UNEP-GEF Global Support Programme for NAPs (GSP-NAP), UNEP is in the process of developing Guidelines for Integrating Ecosystem-based Adaptation into National Adaptation Plans. We are very pleased to announce that we are working with FEBA to establish a Working Group for contributions and consultations for the guidelines. The Working Group will provide case studies and examples for the guidelines, as well as participating in feedback dialogues. If you are interested in joining the Working Group please contact Emily.goodwin@iucn.org. Find out more here.
We’re hiring! If you’d like to join our dynamic and engaging team, UNEP is now hiring an Associate Programme Management Officer (P2) to work on the development, implementation, and evaluation of the Global Ecosystem-based Adaptation Fund 2020-2024. You can apply here. The deadline for applications is 7th August.
Educational Partnerships for Innovation in Communities Network (EPIC-N) - Are you a university or municipality that’s looking to build climate-resilience in your local city? The EPIC model has a proven track record of increasing climate-resilience and sustainability by forming key partnerships between city officials and local universities.
EPIC-N, in partnership with GAN and START, are pleased to now offer a learning workshop on the EPIC model for Asian countries, which will be held back-to-back with the Asia-Pacific Adaptation Network (APAN) Forum in March 2021. This workshop will provide a unique opportunity for collaborating pairs of individuals representing municipal governments and nearby universities to gain skills on the use of the EPIC model to address local sustainability challenges and return home with a work plan to implement. The workshop follows a similar event that took place in Africa last February, where city-university pairs from 22 African cities learned how to work together to increase sustainability.
Ecosystem-based Adaptation for Food Security in Africa (EBAFOSA) - EBAFOSA’s latest release of the Climate Action Digest focused on Harnessing the power of communal cooperatives to innovatively finance climate action post-COVID-19. This edition emphasizes the role of communal cooperatives, which are accessible and relevant to the diverse financial needs of the sectors that are hard hit by the ongoing pandemic in the continent. You can find it here.
Friends of Ecosystem-based Adaptation (FEBA) – IUCN, which hosts FEBA, has launched the Global Standard for Nature-Based Solutions after a two-year participatory consultation process. The Standard will help governments, business and civil society ensure the effectiveness of nature-based solutions and maximise their potential to help address climate change, biodiversity loss and other societal challenges on a global scale. For more information on the launch and to download the Standard, please follow the link.
The FEBA Urban EbA Working Group have developed a survey to identify and compile practical examples on Urban EbA planning and implementation. If you do any adaptation work in urban ecosystems, please fill out the survey here!
The documentation and recordings from the 6th EbA Knowledge Day are now available! This event on June 8 was the largest-ever EbA Knowledge Day, with participants from 42 countries and 65 organizations. Please find the documentation of the sessions here.
Adaptation Round-up
JUN-JUL UPDATE
Six ways nature can protect us from climate change - An article by the UN Environment Programme explores a diverse range of examples of how nature-based solutions can build our resilience to climate impacts, whether it’s wildfire, sandstorms, or heatwaves. The article covers projects in Sudan, Tanzania, Gambia, and Comoros. “In essence, look after nature and it will look after you.”
Video: What is Ecosystem-based Adaptation?- Healthy ecosystems can reduce the negative impacts of climate change. For instance, coastal habitats like mangroves provide natural flood defences, well-protected lakes retain water sources during droughts, and healthy forests reduce the risk of devastating wildfires. The strategy of using nature as a defence against climate impacts is called ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA).
‘COVID-19 is a wake-up call’: Ghana to develop national plan for climate adaptation - The Government of Ghana has launched the process to develop a National Adaptation Plan (NAP) in efforts to build nationwide resilience to climate change impacts. The project is the first of its kind in Ghana to use future climate projections to plan over large timescales, up to the year 2080.
Nature is an economic winner for COVID-19 recovery - Published by the World Resources Institute, a highly insightful commentary explores how investments in nature can provide significant financial returns and employment benefits after COVID-19. Restoration activities, for example, can “generate an estimated $7 to $30 in benefits for every dollar invested." Some countries are already leading the way.
South African municipalities take part in exchange on riverine management- The City of Durban (eThekwini Municipality) is working with the C40 Cities Finance Facility to develop a business case for its Transformative River Management Programme (TRMP), which partners the city with communities adjacent to streams to protect stretches of waterway. To extend the benefits of TRMP, Durban is now working with C40 in a knowledge sharing programme with surrounding municipalities.
Call to action for a climate-resilient recovery from COVID-19 - The Global Commission on Adaptation, led by former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, launched with the mandate to encourage the development of measures to manage the effects of climate change through technology, planning and investment. A new statement from the Commission calls for accelerated progress in seven areas of adaptation.
Fighting cyclones and coronavirus: how we evacuated millions during a pandemic - An article in The Guardian, co-written by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the CEO of the Global Center on Adaptation Patrick Verkooijen, discussed the twin perils that faced Bangladesh in May: COVID-19 and a super-cyclone. The article argues that climate adaptation plans give nations better tools to respond to such disasters.
