In the pursuit of carbon-neutral future, countries around the world are increasingly utilizing land-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR) strategies to meet their climate pledges. These strategies typically involve afforestation, reforestation, and changes in land management practices, all aimed at capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Additionally, the rapid growth of voluntary carbon markets and carbon offsetting are driving investments in land-based CDR activities, further amplifying the demand for land. This growing reliance on land to meet net-zero pledges as well as the land use changes associated with CDR carry several challenges and risks, especially in contexts where land ownership and use rights are not clearly defined or recognized.  This session will explore the intricate relationship between climate change mitigation and land tenure security. We will critically examine the potential risks that land-based CDR poses to local communities, alongside the pivotal role that secure land tenure plays in realizing climate action and sustainable land management objectives. Our discussion will focus on how the protection of legitimate land tenure rights is not only a matter of social justice but also a cornerstone in ensuring an equitable and effective transition to a sustainable, carbon-neutral future that leaves no one behind. At the conference, we aim to pre-launch the Climate-Forest-Land Rights Atlas—an effective communication product combining text and infographics—to convey complex issues concisely.  

Objectives: 

• Discuss the role of land tenure security in ensuring the success, sustainability, and inclusiveness of climate change mitigation and sustainable land management. 

• Identify strategies to prioritize and safeguard land rights in the context of global climate action and carbon markets. 

• Pre-launch the Atlas on “Climate-Forests-Land Rights”, being co-developed by TMG Research, Power Shift Africa, Robert Bosch Stiftung and other partners. 

• There is an on-going discussion about the impacts of carbon markets, creating uncertainties in the land and climate sector. The Atlas will help to raise awareness and understanding by examining the impacts of land-based carbon dioxide removal and carbon credit projects on land tenure and livelihoods of local communities. 

Speakers

• Maria Wichmann, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

• Anne Larson, Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR - ICRAF)

• Louisa Prause, Robert Bosch Stiftung

• Amos Wemanya, Power Shift Africa

• Jes Weigelt, TMG Research

There will be an option for virtual participation for the first time this year, and requests for virtual General Registration are now open. Virtual registration is free of charge. More information here.