John Vaillant: Fire Weather - Presentation and Panel Discussion

This November, a delegation of UBC students and faculty will be attending the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. Among them are Dr. Guangyu Wang, Professor in Forest Resources Management, and Chunyu Pan, a PhD student in Forest Resources Management. They are scheduled to host a side event titled “Advancing the Quality and Integrity of Forestry Climate NbS: Challenges, Innovations, and Strategies.” We spoke to Chunyu about the event and what they hope to achieve at COP29.

What is the main focus of your event at COP29? 

Our event at COP29, titled “Advancing the Quality and Integrity of Forestry Climate NbS: Challenges, Innovations, and Strategies,” will focus on enhancing forest-based nature-based solutions (NbS) as essential tools for tackling global climate change. Our session will explore a broad spectrum of forestry NbS, beginning with holistic forestry solutions for biodiversity, climate resilience, and socio-economic well-being and then narrowing in on the role of bamboo as an NbS for carbon markets. The overarching aim is to examine challenges such as ensuring carbon market integrity, biodiversity co-benefits, and community involvement, as well as showcasing innovative strategies for scaling and financing robust forest NbS. We will bring together a range of experts—from the University of British Columbia (UBC) to partners like the American Forest Foundation (AFF), Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Balance Eco, Université Laval, and ZAFU—and provide an in-depth look at forestry NbS within the framework of the New Collective Quantified Goal on climate finance and Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

What inspired the theme for this event? 

The theme is inspired by the critical need for NbS to be credible, effective, and inclusive. Forests offer remarkable potential for climate resilience, carbon sequestration, biodiversity preservation, and livelihood support. However, to harness these benefits, NbS projects must be well-managed, accountable, and supported by rigorous standards and transparent financing mechanisms. By focusing on “quality and integrity,” we’re addressing some of the main obstacles in implementing NbS effectively at scale—issues such as methodological rigor in carbon accounting, socio-economic inclusivity, and market-driven finance. This theme reflects our dedication to advancing forestry NbS to deliver on climate goals and support resilient, sustainable communities.

What role do forests play in terms of nature-based strategies for climate change? What are the challenges?

Forests are foundational to climate change strategies, as they naturally sequester carbon, support biodiversity, regulate water cycles, and contribute to local economies. Our event will delve into these roles, showcasing how forestry-based NbS can simultaneously address climate, biodiversity, and socio-economic goals. However, several challenges remain. Carbon market integrity is a key issue—how can we ensure that forest carbon projects are credible and truly impactful? Furthermore, ensuring these projects provide measurable biodiversity co-benefits and support local communities requires strong, inclusive frameworks. Financing is another critical challenge; without reliable funding from mechanisms like Article 6 and the New Collective Quantified Goal, scaling NbS becomes difficult. By fostering collaboration and addressing these obstacles head-on, we hope to contribute to the implementation of forestry NbS as an essential climate solution.

How does your work at UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship align with this event and what are your expectations for the conference?

My research at UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship focuses on using bamboo as a nature-based solution (NbS) for climate change mitigation, alongside examining challenges and strategies in forest carbon offset projects. This aligns closely with the themes of our COP29 side event, where we’ll explore innovative NbS in forestry and address key challenges in carbon market integrity, biodiversity co-benefits, and local economic impacts. For COP29 as a whole, I’m particularly interested in learning how international stakeholders are advancing Article 6 implementation to standardize and scale carbon markets, as well as how the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) is progressing in climate finance. I hope to gain insights into global best practices and explore potential collaborations that can further enhance the credibility and impact of forest-based NbS.

What do you hope attendees will take away from your event? 

We hope attendees will come away with a comprehensive understanding of how forest-based NbS can be scaled to address climate change effectively and equitably. From our first session, we hope they gain insight into the importance of holistic forestry approaches that integrate biodiversity, community well-being, and climate action. In the second session, we want to illuminate the potential of bamboo as a carbon sink and a contributor to sustainable livelihoods. We want attendees to appreciate the importance of maintaining quality and integrity in NbS projects and recognize the critical role that robust financing, transparent methodologies, and community collaboration play in achieving these goals.

We’re honored to represent UBC and our partners at COP29 and to contribute to the dialogue on nature-based solutions for climate action. We’re excited to engage with a wide range of stakeholders and are optimistic about the pathways this event will open for future partnerships, research, and impactful climate action.