PRESS RELEASE
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Published on 11 November 2021 Last updated on 11 November 2021
The Government of Ireland will host ‘Dialogues Towards a European Peatlands Initiative’ on the closing day of COP26 (12 November, 2021). This event will bring together European ministers and peatland experts for a discussion on activating stakeholders and the need for open, pan-European collaboration on peatlands restoration and management.
Event: Dialogues Towards a European Peatlands Initiative at COP26
When: 12 November 11-13 GMT
How: Register for the peatland pavilion to watch the live stream of the event: https://globalpeatlands.online/PeatlandPavilionCOP26Registration
Follow: #PeatlandsMatter
In 2019, at the United Nations Environment Assembly, countries committed to work together toward the conservation and sustainable management of peatlands articulated in the UNEA Resolution 4/16. During Dialogues Towards a European Peatlands Initiative Ministers Noonan and Hackett will be joined by government representatives from Ireland, Iceland, Germany and beyond, to will share the important lessons from their respective countries on peatlands restoration and conservation.
Expert stakeholders will also outline their outlook for the future, and Ministers will discuss the benefits and challenges that future collaboration could bring.
Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan TD stated that
“conservation and restoration of the world’s peatlands are an essential component in the global challenge to tackle climate change. I look forward to sharing Ireland’s experiences and the great work being done by many stakeholders in revitalising Irish peatlands and to hearing the experiences of other countries. In our recent Climate Action Plan, my Department committed to the ongoing restoration of Ireland’s protected raised bog network in an area of circa 22,000 hectares. As we enter the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, it is vitally important that we ensure peatlands are conserved, restored and sustainably managed for current and future generations.
Minister of State Pippa Hackett concluded that
“these dialogues are the first step on a journey – open to all European countries and peatland actors alike – on how we can meaningfully collaborate across Europe in order to maximise the positive outcomes for all our peatlands.
Full Press Release on gov.ie