Webinar: Inversiones en Protección Hídrica en América Latina

 Inversiones en Proteccií³n Hí­drica: Un Panorama de América Latina
10 de abril 2013, 10:00 a.m. GMT-5


Inscrí­base en el webinar aquí­.
¡El cupo es limitado!  

Te invitamos a unirte al seminario web (“webinar”), “Inversiones en Proteccií³n Hí­drica: Un Panorama de América Latina,” coordinado por Forest Trends’ Valorando Naturaleza, y el Programa de Agua del Ecosystem Marketplace.    Valorando Naturaleza es una nueva plataforma para el mundo habla hispana diseí±ada para generar y agregar informacií³n de calidad sobre la valoracií³n e inversií³n en ecosistemas en América Latina.  

Algunos de los programas mí¡s innovadores del mundo para proteger los servicios hidrolí³gicos se encuentran en América Latina.    En 2011, Forest Trends analizí³ mí¡s de una treintena de programas activos, y mí¡s de 87 millones de dí³lares (EE.UU.) en inversiones en la regií³n.  

En este webinar, lí­deres trabajando en la regií³n presentarí¡n la nueva actividad y las tendencias de inversiones en “infraestructura natural” y co-gestií³n de los recursos hí­dricos en América Latina. Incluiremos un resumen de iniciativas que invierten en la naturaleza en toda la regií³n basado en el informe Trazando las Aguas Nuevas: Estado de las Inversiones en Proteccií³n Hí­drica 2012. Los panelistas discutirí¡n las iniciativas mí¡s importantes e innovadoras de América Latina enfocado a concluir con lecciones para ONGs ambientales y de desarrollo, tomadores de decisií³n, grupos comunitarios, el sector privado, y otros actores.

Moderado por:
Carina Bracer, Valorando Naturaleza

Introduccií³n por:
Beatrice Mosello,    
Alianza Clima y Desarrollo (CDKN)  

Los Panelistas:
Marta Echavarrí­a, EcoDecisií³n
Alejandro Calvache, The Nature Conservancy  
Eduardo Franco, Fundacií³n Natura Bolivia  


State of Watershed Payments 2012 Launch Event

Please join us for the DC launch of Charting New Waters: State of Watershed Payments 2012, a new report from Forest Trends’ Ecosystem Marketplace. The report was released on January 17, 2013 and is available here.
 
The launch event, will be co-hosted by the World Bank and the Global Environment Facility.
 
State of Watershed Payments 2012 – Launch
January 24, 2013 – 4 to 6 pm  
1818 H Street, NW, Room MC13-121  
Washington, DC 20433    
Reception to follow
 
A presentation of report findings will be complemented by a high-level panel discussion from international leaders in investments in watershed services, including:
 
Gustavo Fonseca, Head, Natural Resources, Global Environment Facility
                                  (Introductions)  
Michael Jenkins, President and CEO, Forest Trends (Moderator)
 
Genevieve Bennett, Forest Trends’ Ecosystem Marketplace
                                    (Report Author and Presenter)  
 
Panelists:  
Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, Minister of Environment, Peru (invited)
Jaime Cavelier, Senior Biodiversity Specialist, Global Environment
                                Facility
Stephen Petron, VP & Director of Natural Resources, CH2M Hill
Marta Echavarria, Co-Founder, EcoDecisií³n, and Report Contributor  
Peter Dewees, Forests Adviser for the World Bank and Manager of the
                                 Program on Forests.
                                 
****************  
 
Charting New Waters: State of Watershed Payments 2012 tracks the size, scope, and direction of innovative financing mechanisms for water resource protection around the world and provides detailed design and project analysis for policy-makers, project developers, investors, and other natural resource managers.  
 
The report uncovers new developments around the world: from building bridges to carbon markets, to financing the switch to agriculture that deliver both long-term water and food security, to innovative mechanisms like groundwater offsets or water quality trading systems. Preliminary data indicates that active watershed payment programs around the world have nearly doubled since 2008.
 
Please RSVP to Christine Lanser, [email protected].  
(Please provide name, title, organization, phone number and email address.)  
 
Thank you to our supporters: Swiss Development Corporation, the World Bank, Profor, Global Environment Facility, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and the Grantham Foundation.  

ACES and Ecosystem Markets 2012

ACES and Ecosystem Markets 2012 is an international collaboration of three dynamic communities – A Community on Ecosystem Services (ACES), the Ecosystem Markets Conference, and the Ecosystem Services Partnership (ESP). The conference will provide an open forum to share experiences and state-of-the-art methods, tools, and processes for assessing and incorporating ecosystem services into public and private decisions. The focus of the conference will be to link science, practice, institutions and resource sustainable decision making by bringing together ecosystem services communities from around the United States and the globe.

 
ACES and Ecosystem Markets 2012 will bring together leaders in government, NGOs, academia, tribal organizations, and the private sector to advance the use of ecosystem services science and practice in conservation, restoration, resource management, and development decisions. To facilitate discussion, a variety of presentation methods including, organized sessions, world café discussions, town hall meetings, oral and poster presentations, and hands-on workshops will be incorporated into the conference structure. Topics and themes from previous ACES, Ecosystem Markets, and ESP events will be integrated to provide the most comprehensive event on the ecosystem services.

 

More information here.

Payments for Environmental Services: a Way Forward for Mediterranean Forests

Mediterranean forests and woodlands, which cover 73M ha, are the main ecological infrastructure in the region. They provide valuable ecosystem services, relevant for the most strategic resources of the region to sustain life: water, soil and biodiversity.  
 
However, the sustainable provision of forest goods and services is seriously threatened by drastic and rapid climate and land use changes. The challenge is to find ways to finance adaptive forest management strategies, given the low profitability of traditional forestry. Payments for environmental services (PES) are increasingly acknowledged on the policy arena as an approach to recognize the value of ecosystem services and to generate financing for effective ecosystem management.
 
The ThinkForest forum, facilated by EFI, is organising a seminar called Payments for Environmental Services: a Way Forward for Mediterranean Forests? which will be concentrating on the above-mentioned issues. The seminar will be take place on 27 November 2012 at 16.00-18.30 in the European Parliament, Brussels.
 
The objectives of the event are to:
  • discuss the specific economic nature of Mediterranean forests and their goods and services;
  • present the latest scientific knowledge on payments for environmental services and their practical implementation in the Mediterranean region and
  • discuss the potential of PES to address specific problems of Mediterranean forests (e.g. forest fires, deforestation).
A detailed programme of the event is available at the ThinkForest website. Registration is currently open, and an online registration form is available here. Please register before 19 November!
 

Ecosystem Marketplace’s 2012 State of the Forest Carbon Markets Report Launch – London

Forest Trends’ Ecosystem Marketplace is pleased to announce that on November 1, 2012, we launch the most recent edition of the annual State of the Forest Carbon Markets report. The report, which details our latest findings on the state of forest carbon projects’ structure, standards, and finance, will be freely available on both the Ecosystem Marketplace and Forest Carbon Portal websites on and after this date.

We will also launch our findings at events celebrating the report’s release! RSVP to the event below to learn first-hand the results of our research that takes a look back at forest carbon offset transactions in 2011 – in the context of today’s market trends, presented by a panel of report authors and reputable market experts.
 
WHAT: State of the Forest Carbon Markets 2012 LONDON launch event  
 
WHEN: November 13th, 2012 – 4:30-6:00 PM GMT; Panel presentation, followed by reception.
 
WHERE: Hosted by Face the Future and Climate Change Capital at the London offices of Climate Change Capital: 3 More London Riverside, London SE1 2AQ.  
 
RSVP: via email to [email protected] or call +1 202 298 3009. RSVP no later than COB November 9th to secure your seat.
 
WHO:
Moderator: Michael Jenkins, President, Forest Trends
Panelists:
Molly Peters-Stanley, Carbon Programs Manager, Forest Trends’ Ecosystem Marketplace
Justin Whalen, Project Manager, Face the Future
Pat Snowdon, Head of Economics and Climate Change, UK Forestry Commission
Alfred Evans, CEO, Climate Change Capital
Christian del Valle, Managing Partner, Althelia Ecosphere
 
 
 

We would like to acknowledge and thank the organizations that enable us to make this report and our ongoing research available at no cost to readers worldwide. This year’s report received support from our Premium Sponsor, the Code REDD Campaign; sponsors Face the Future, Kinship Conservation Fellows, the Law Offices of Baker & McKenzie and the UK Forestry Commission, and additional support from Conservation International and Astrium Services.

Ecosystem Mitigation Banking Seminar

Over the past 25 years, ecological and environmental banking has played an increasingly significant role in federal, state and local regulatory programs throughout the county.  Its growth in popularity stems from its rise in use and favor by government agencies as a means of streamlining the impact-related permitting process by using banks that have already been vetted through the regulatory approval process to compensate for unavoidable environmental impacts resulting from permitted activities.  
 
The banking industry faces many of the same legal hurdles as those faced by more traditional forms of real estate development. However, given the nature of the asset and the additional regulatory scrutiny and requirements, the industry has also developed its own unique set of legal issues, challenges and solutions.  
 
The goal of this seminar is both to inform attorneys, regulatory staff, land trusts and private developers of existing ecological and environmental banking markets and to discuss and debate the many legal, regulatory and practical matters that should be considered when developing banking opportunities.    

Join Program Co-Chairs J.P. Fougerousse, a member of the Real Estate Practice Group at Parker Hudson Rainer & Dobbs LLP, and Brian T. Normanly, PWS, a Portfolio Manager with Timbervest LLC. They lead this outstanding faculty:  

  • Ray O. Acton, CPA of Sellers Richardson Holman & West LLP
  • Elizabeth H. Bergquist of Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP
  • Wayne E. Flowers of Lewis Longman & Walker PA
  • Doug Lashley of GreenVest LLC
  • Robert J. Proutt, Jr., of Hunton & Williams LLP
  • Rhodes Robinson, CEP, PWS of Environmental Services, Inc.
  • Pamela L. Sunderland of Mountain Conservation Trust of Georgia
  • Kevin A. Thomas of Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP
  • Charles Thompson of Eco-Capital Advisors LLC
  • John T. Vermont, PWS, CE of Wetland & Ecological Consultants LLC
  • Randy Wilgis of Environmental Banc & Exchange LLC
  • Shawn Wilkerson of Wildlands Engineering, Inc.
  • Cynthia J. Wood of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Thank you to the Lunch Sponsors Parker Hudson Rainer & Dobbs LLP, Timbervest LLC and Wetlands & Ecological Consultants LLC.  
Thank you to the exhibit Sponsor GERA – Georgia Environmental Restoration Association
 

CIF 2012 Partnership Forum

The Climate Investment Funds and EBRD, as co-hosts, look forward to welcoming you to the CIF 2012 Partnership Forum in Istanbul, Turkey on November 6-7, 2012.
 
The Forum will provide a unique opportunity for diverse stakeholders – governments, civil society, indigenous peoples, private sector, and others – to contribute to deepening global understanding of the linkages between climate change and development as they have been addressed within the context of the Climate Investment Funds (CIF). As all CIF programs (on clean technology, forest investments, climate resilience and scaling up renewable energy in low income countries) are moving into implementation of investments at the country level, we anticipate the Forum to be a dynamic gathering that will be focused on effective on-the-ground implementation, knowledge-building and sharing of lessons.
 
The Forum program is comprised of plenary sessions and a series of smaller parallel sessions that are intended to address the multiple interests of CIF stakeholders and to provide for open discussions to explore ways to maximize the effectiveness of the CIF. The interactive format provides a platform for Forum participants to present their perspectives, experiences, and reflections on CIF strategic directions, results and impacts.
 
 

Carbon Forum Asia 2012

Jointly organized by the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA) and Koelnmesse, Carbon Forum Asia is Asia Pacific’s premier Trade Fair and Conference for Climate and Carbon Finance, Emissions Trading and Low Carbon Technologies. It offers the Asia and global carbon, energy and financial community a unique opportunity to network, develop new business opportunities and stay updated on the most current issues and trends.

For more information, click here.

Low Carbon Earth Summit 2012

 LCES-2012 will continue to provide an alternative platform to other global conferences in related to climate change and environment protection. The event will focus more on practical perspectives on green economy, promotion of sustainable or renewable energy, and exhibit technical resolutions to solve and predict the existing issues. Through the massive operations on comprehensive topics related low carbon economy and industries, organizers hope the summit can provide best information to exchange channels for all endeavors on low carbon fields who are working on controlling global climate changes from policy makers, NGO leaders, economists, investors, engineers, scientists, industrial leaders, carbon traders, brokers, clean emerge producers, energy consumers, toward daily low carbon life practitioners and advocators etc. Thus, LCES-2012 can provide help the society and humanity with unprecedented impacts on the world sustainable development, new economy growth and renewable energy innovation to commercialization.

For more information on this event, click here  

Carbon Forum North America 2012

Carbon Forum North America 2012 — taking place at the Marriott Metro Center in downtown Washington, DC on October 1-2, 2012—has firmly established itself as the place to go to keep abreast of the latest thinking and developments in the North American carbon space—for both carbon policy wonks and market-players alike.
 
From the first California auction to the establishment of a functional North American market through the Western Climate Initiative; from the advancement of RGGI’s 2012 review to progress within NA2050; from innovative climate finance to emerging carbon markets; from an exciting election season to the buildup preceding a new round of rejuvenated international climate talks; and from new regulatory developments at the EPA to the latest legal developments in the courts, Carbon Forum North America on October 1-2 will give market participants the best carbon coverage at the best time. Join your colleagues at CFNA for the most comprehensive carbon market analysis, the latest policy developments, and the best legal coverage in the North American carbon, climate, and clean energy space!
 
Carbon Forum North America —IETA’s flagship North American event—will be one of the best opportunities of the year to network with the North American and global carbon markets, browse exhibits showcasing the work of leading companies, and learn what you need to know about this rapidly evolving space.

Learn more about the event here

EcoSummit 2012 – Ecological Sustainability

EcoSummit 2012 will bring together the world’s most respected minds in ecological science to discuss restoring the planet’s ecosystems. Come hear Pulitzer Prize winners E.O. Wilson and Jared Diamond, Kyoto Prize winner Simon Levin, Stockholm Water Prize laureates Sven Jí¸rgensen and William Mitsch, and many others in the first conference ever linking the Ecological Society of America (ESA), The International Association for Ecology (INTECOL) and the Society for Ecological Restoration International (SER).
 
We expect 1500 to 1600 delegates from 75 countries to come to Columbus, Ohio, USA, for EcoSummit 2012 to hear 10 plenary presentations from the world’s premier ecologists and environmental scientists and practitioners, and 600 invited presentations in 65 symposia from around the world, and to participate in 21 forums and workshops on practical issues related to improving our environment. In addition, there are another 850 general sessions and poster presentations during EcoSummit 2012.
 
The symposia, general sessions, posters, and workshops cover a wide variety of ecological topics, over the entire week of the conference in parallel sessions including:
  • ecological restoration and ecological engineering
  • estimating ecosystem services
  • global change issues including climate change effects and the future of food security
  • lake, wetland, river, forest and agro-ecosystem management
  • corporate involvement in the environment
  • sustainable economics and business practices
 
Ecosystems such as streams, rivers, inland and coastal wetlands, grasslands, and forests provide numerous services that fundamentally support human health and well-being. This international conference will explore innovative science-based strategies that are socially and culturally acceptable to create, manage, and restore these ecosystems, ensuring that society has access to all these ecosystem services. Our aim is to provide a high-profile platform for dialogue among researchers, planners and decision-makers to develop a better understanding of the complex nature of ecological systems and the means to protect and enhance their services.

Read more about the event here

ClimateWeek NYC – Doha and beyond: the future of international climate policy

Bloomberg New Energy Finance and The Climate Group are hosting an exclusive discussion with UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres and other special guests on the future of international climate policy.

 
Bloomberg New Energy Finance & The Climate Group
 
For the fourth consecutive year, Bloomberg New Energy Finance and The Climate Group will join forces to host a special breakfast roundtable event as part of the annual ClimateWeek NYC program in New York.
 
This year’s session will feature Dr. Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), along with EU Commissioner for Climate Action Connie Hedegaard and World Bank VP for Sustainable Development Rachel Kyte, and will take place on Tuesday, September 25 at 8:00 a.m. at the Bloomberg offices on Lexington Avenue.
 
The official invitation and event description is attached – feel free to call or email with any questions.
 
There is no charge to attend, though we ask that you RSVP as soon as possible in order to confirm your place.

Read more about the event and register here

IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition

Every two years 5000 of the world’s leading water professionals gather at the IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition to discuss the world’s leading water issues. There is no better or easier opportunity to meet with key contacts in the international water community.

 
Over the six days of the congress, meet current colleagues, make new contacts, expand your client base, meet new research partners, exchange knowledge and experiences, and create new solutions to the world’s water questions.
 
The International Water Association delivers high quality scientific and technical programmes full of topics that are current, while focusing on the specialty areas and also the ‘bigger picture’.
 
Lee Myung-bak, the President of South Korea, says that the congress “is an opportunity for both Korea and the whole world to spread the importance of water widely. The Korean government will continuously strive to make the congress a great success.”

 

More information here.

European Conference on Biodiversity

This is the first time that EGMF& EDGE are organising a conference together and we hope this event will be of interest to delegates from within and outside the industry.

Major assessments have shown that global environmental deterioration is getting worse, not better. EGMF products are operated outdoors and we would like to play our part in responding to the challenge.
 
Therefore EDGE & EGMF have decided that biodiversity will be the theme of its first conference.  Our industry has products that every household with a garden possesses and our professional customers are involved in forestry. If our consumers, our professional customers and our industry all do something (and some have already started taking action), we think this will make a difference.

Golfers, landscapers, public authorities dealing with green spaces, turf managers, forestry workers and landowners are invited to register quickly as the number of seats is limited.

Read more about the event here.

World Water Week

World Water Week is hosted and organised by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) and takes place each year in Stockholm. The World Water Week has been the annual focal point for the globe’s water issues since 1991. Join us!

 
Each year the World Water Week addresses a particular theme to enable a deeper examination of a specific water-related topic. While not all events during the week relate to the overall theme, the workshops driven by the Scientific Programme Committee and many seminars and side events do focus on various aspects of the theme. The themes change each year, but each fits within a broader “niche” that covers several years. The grouping of
themes within a niche is designed to develop a long-term perspective on a broad yet significant water and development issue. It also ensures that each year builds upon the previous years’ outcomes and findings.
 
The current niche for 2009-2012 is “Responding to Global Changes”, which looks at the potential and necessary responses in water policy, management and development to address pervasive and increasingly impacting global changes.  

 

More information here.

Carbon Forestry 2012

Programme Details

 
Forestry has been an essential component of New Zealand’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) since the very beginning. Forestry is New Zealand’s largest potential carbon sink and, as the ETS continues to grow in importance to NZ businesses, so does its investment future.
 
Last year over 250 forestry and finance business leaders came together for Carbon Forestry 2011, the first ever event focused on carbon forestry and carbon trading opportunities. While 2011 set the scene, much has already changed and Carbon Forestry 2012 will be a must see event for the industry this year.
 
A raft of new legislation, a dramatic drop-off in carbon trading and pricing during 2011, the banning of some international emissions units and uncertainty around the future alignment of New Zealand and Australia’s trading schemes has changed the landscape significantly. It’s led to uncertainty in the marketplace about the immediate future and opportunities that exist in carbon forestry.
 
The 2012 programme will attract a wide cross section of New Zealand and Australian companies.
 
Topics covered in Carbon Forestry 2012:
  • One year after the Government’s 2011 ETS review, what has changed?
  • Now that Australia has carbon tax and will introduce an ETS by 2014, how will the two countries work together?
  • Where are major international carbon markets, how do they view forestry and will this affect Australasia
  • What are the key investment opportunities within carbon forestry
  • How can companies reduce their exposure to market risk
  • Insights into iwi groups and their impact on New Zealand’s carbon forestry
  • Case studies from the early movers
  • The implications of political, economic and market uncertainty
  • Demand and growth within the carbon offset market
 
This event will provided the financial and forestry industries with a much clearer understanding of how the market is operating, who are the major players in the marketplace and identified market and investment opportunities that exist through carbon forestry.
 
Who should attend?
  • Financiers & investors
  • Carbon traders & brokers
  • Forest owners, consultants and forestry professionals
  • Large rural land owners (farmers)
  • Maori groups
  • Downstream industries (sawmills, pulp and water)
  • Government, Policy & advisory bodies
  • Equipment & technology providers
  • Carbon markets associations
  • Carbon offset market industries

5th Annual International ESP Conference

The Ecosystem Services Partnership invites you to the 5th annual ESP conference. Don’t miss your chance to interact and exchange ideas with practitioners, educators, policy-makers, researchers, and many others. Be part of working-groups producing outcomes ranging from journal articles, white papers, book chapters (if enough we can put together a book out of this conference), grant proposals, database structures, websites, and much more. This Portland conference is being organised jointly with the International Association of Landscape Ecology (IALE) and A Community on Ecosystem Services (ACES).

More information here.

Singapore International Water Week

Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) is the global platform for water solutions. It brings policymakers, industry leaders, experts and practitioners together to address challenges, showcase technologies, discover opportunities and celebrate achievements in the water world.

 
The event’s flagship programmes comprise:
 
• Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize
• Water Leaders Summit
• Water Convention
• Water Expo
• Business Forums
 
In the face of global urbanisation and climate challenges, the 2012 theme “Water Solutions for Liveable and Sustainable Cities” reinforces the pressing need to integrate sustainable water management strategies into the urban planning process.
 
Singapore International Water Week 2012 provides the platform to address these challenges and explore opportunities in the integration of water solutions and urban planning in cities around the world. Opportunities abound for global water leaders and practitioners from the public and private sectors to debate in water dialogues, network with key industry players, showcase leading-edge technologies and best practices and identify viable solutions to address this common challenge.
 
Held in conjunction with the 3rd World Cities Summit and the inaugural CleanEnviro Singapore, delegates, trade visitors and exhibitors will have more opportunities to promote practical and sustainable water solutions and tap into a vast network of public and private sector players in urban solutions.
 
Singapore International Water Week 2011 Surges to New High
 
Singapore International Water Week 2011, held from 4 – 8 July and themed “Sustainable Solutions for a Changing Urban Environment” notched new highs, with a bigger slate of exhibiting companies and an encouraging growth in participant numbers.
 
This global platform for water solutions attracted a record of some 13,500 participants from 99 countries/regions. This marks a growth in attendance figures of almost 60% since the inaugural event in 2008. The Water Expo saw close to 70% growth in exhibition space and a 70% increase in the number of exhibiting companies over the inaugural year of 2008. Over 600 companies took part in this year’s Water Expo, which attracted six new international pavilions from Australia, Belgium, the United Kingdom, the Milwaukee Water Council (USA), the Water Environment Federation (USA), and the Maryland-Asia Environmental Partnership (USA); taking the total number of pavilions to 15. The total value of announcements for projects awarded, tenders, investments and R&D MOUs reached S$2.9 billion.

2012 Yale Conservation Finance Camp

 The 6th annual Yale Conservation Finance Camp will be held at Yale University, Monday, June 4 through Friday, June 8, 2012. The course offers the latest information on a wide range of innovative conservation finance tools, including new sources of philanthropic funds, public capital and private investment, as well as a framework for analyzing and packaging them. The camp is focused on useful, hands-on tools for conservation practitioners and board members, foundation leaders, private investors and graduate students. This highly interactive course is limited to 20 participants. Registration is on a first-come-first-served basis. For further information and a participant application please contact Amy Badner at [email protected] or visit the camp webpage. 4-8 June 2012. New Haven, CT.  

Related Links

IWA World Conference on Water, Climate, and Energy

Water and energy are critical for our current society and will be of increasing importance in the future. Climate change is forcing us to reassess our energy usage and will have real and substantial impacts on the water cycle. Solving the interlinked challenges of water, climate and energy in a sustainable manner is one of the fundamental goals of this generation. Following on from conferences on Climate Change Adaptation and Water and Energy, the International Water Association is proud to announce the inaugural World Congress on Water, Climate and Energy in 2012.

 

The Congress will explore the topics of resilient and sustainable cities with a focus on climate change adaptation and mitigation. The challenges of climate change adaptation and incorporating uncertainty into the city vision and infrastructure will be discussed together with the impacts and responses of climate change on water resources. Reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, operating in a carbon constrained world and a focus on renewable energy including practical applications and integration in to the energy mix will be covered.

 

Solutions to these challenges, including the role of technologies and smart networks will also be a central theme. Recognising that technology is only part of the solution the conference will also address the economic, political and regulatory aspects of water, climate and energy.

 

The congress will attract up to 2,000 international participants for this global event and will feature a large industry presence and trade exhibition.

More information here.

Forestry, Biomass & Sustainability 2012

 In response, many new forest funds are emerging, global public-private partnerships are increasing, and power companies are increasingly competing with the pulp & paper sector.

 
Attend the 3rd Annual Forestry, Biomass & Sustainability conference for a full update on these developments and more, and to identify new investment opportunities and risks in these expanding markets.
 
Keynote Address from:
Sandy LaBaugh, Senior Director & Portfolio Manager,  
Natural Resources & Infrastructure Investments, TIAA-CREF
 
Hear from a panel of forward-thinking expert speakers – including top-level investment specialists
 
Benefit from a packed agenda – highlights for the all-new 2012 programme include:  
          – Institutional investor insights on forestry investing
          – Fund manager panel: income streams, risk management and
          – sustainability strategies
          – Gaining added value through ecosystem services
          – Ready for REDD+? Financing, policy update and practical case
          – studies
          – Innovative financing mechanisms for forest conservation,  
          – including forest bonds
          – Supply-demand dynamics in the biomass market
          – Biomass for power generation: end-user case study
Optimise your business opportunities – gain a deep understanding of the current market situation facing forestry and biomass, including carbon finance, so you have all the information you need to maximise investment opportunities as they arise
 
Debate the key issues with the experts – take advantage of the many panel sessions to put your pressing questions to the panellists & discuss your particular business concerns with them
 
Network with the key players in forestry and biomass – meet and do business with investors, fund managers, government and multilateral representatives, project developers, forestry owners, end-users and other key players in forestry and biomass
Click here for further details and to book
claiming your generous registration discount
 

North America’s Energy Future: Powering a Low-carbon Economy for 2030 and Beyond

Organized by the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation’s (CEC) Joint Public Advisory Committee (JPAC), this public forum will bring together experts to discuss, inter alia: progress made in fostering renewable electricity markets in Canada, Mexico and the US since the CEC’s 2007 report on the subject, and its future through 2030; challenges and barriers affecting the use of renewable energy in North America; and how renewable energy projects can be promoted in remote communities.  

Water Rights and Trading Regional Summits 2012

Water rights trading and water resource development are emerging markets that are creating abundant business opportunities. However, these new markets are not always easily understood. WestWater Research and American Water Intelligence are coming together to provide information and direction to water trading and development opportunities through a series of thought-provoking, regional conferences.  

 
These events will be the premier forum for leaders from Wall Street to the water sector to provide valuable insight on:
  • Investing and financing water development projects in the US
  • Are water rights a good investment?
  • Pricing, trading and other market fundamentals
  • Legal and regulatory risk management in water deals
  • Native American water rights in an era of water marketing
  • Environmental water markets and mitigating water development
  • Making business sense of the water development sector
 
Water is a critical component of our economic future, and the western US has many issues relating to water supply, development and management projects, environmental regulations, and expanding populations. All of these issues also offer political and financial challenges, as well as investment opportunities.

More information here.

Navigating the American Carbon World 2012

The event features the most forward-thinking minds that are driving action to address global climate change. And, because of the depth and diversity of its delegates, who represent business, NGOs, academia and government agencies, it is known as the single best place for networking and collaborating. NACW 2012 will take place April 10-12 in San Francisco and will present a detailed look at California’s cap-and-trade program and other types of mitigation, as well as current and potential linkages between state-level, regional and international carbon markets and sub-national REDD programs. The event is hosted by the Climate Action Reserve.

Click here for more information

RFF First Wednesday Webinar: Green Infrastructure

12:45 – 2:00 p.m.

A light lunch will be provided starting at 12:30 p.m.
 
Registration for in-person attendance is required. To RSVP for this event, please visit RFF’s event registration page.
 
This event will also be webcast live starting at 12:45 p.m. Join the webcast at rff.org/live.
 
About the Event
Nature provides a wealth of ecological services: forests store carbon and clean the air; rivers provide water for drinking and harbor animal species; and wetlands purify stormwater and serve as buffers against floods. Governments around the world are increasingly recognizing that this “green infrastructure” can be a cost-effective supplement or substitute for the “gray infrastructure”—pipes, dams, levees, treatment plants—traditionally used to control flooding, purify and store water, and reduce urban stormwater runoff.
 
At this First Wednesday Seminar, sponsored by RFF’s Center for the Management of Ecological Wealth, panelists will explore what “green infrastructure” means and describe how to evaluate the costs and benefits of land-use options for reducing flood damages. They will also discuss the challenges of convincing stakeholders that natural systems can provide infrastructure services and complement public projects. RFF experts will describe a case study evaluating flood abatement options in a Wisconsin watershed, and provide some lessons learned from working to implement a payment for environmental services program in the Florida Everglades.
 
Moderator:
Lynn Scarlett, Co-Director, RFF Center for the Management of Ecological Wealth
 
Panelists:
Margaret Walls, Research Director and Thomas J. Klutznick Senior Fellow, Resources for the Future
“The Role of Land Use Policies in Minimizing Flood Damage”
Len Shabman, Resident Scholar, Resources for the Future
“A Green Infrastructure Contribution to Everglades Restoration”  

More information here.

NAMAs after Durban – What lies ahead?

The recent Durban Climate Conference made important progress towards clarifying the international operational framework for Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs), particularly on a prototype registry and core guidance for reporting. Will these recent developments foster international cooperation and accelerate NAMAs design and implementation in developing countries?  

This open knowledge session, the first in a webinar series on NAMAs organized by WBI for the Mitigation Action Implementation Network (MAIN) and the global community, will address a range of key questions:

  • Key outcomes of Durban related to NAMAs: Are there direct implications for climate & development policy-makers and practitioners at the national level? What further guidance on process and modalities can be expected in the short term?
  • Update on NAMA proposals across sectors: Which lessons have been learned from early action framing low-emissions interventions as NAMAs?

Challenges ahead for NAMAs development and implementation: How can domestic and international support effectively be mobilized to advance evolving NAMA proposals?  

Webinar: Introduction to Ecosystem Services

WHEN:  March 29, 2012  | 12:00PM

WHERE:  Online webinar
COST:  Free
ORGANIZER:  CBEY
 
Featuring Yale alumna Katherine Hamilton, Managing Director at Forest Trends’ Ecosystem Marketplace.
This is the first edition of the three-part webinar series, “Nature’s Returns: Investing in Ecosystem Services”. Featured presenter Katherine Hamilton ’06 M.E.M, Managing Director at Forest Trends’ Ecosystem Marketplace, will provide a primer on Ecosystem Services before taking questions from the audience.
 
The Center for Business and the Environment at Yale (CBEY) is pleased to announce a special series of webinars on investing in the services provided by nature — so called ecosystem services. The benefits that human populations gain from healthy and functioning ecosystems are vast, yet traditionally difficult to quantify in financial terms. Clean drinking water filtered by forests, carbon stored in plants or soil, crop pollination by wild insects, and pharmaceutical uses of plants are just a few examples of services we usually receive for free. However, a recent wave of efforts to monetize the value of Ecosystem Services presents an opportunity to both protect these assets and bring their worth onto the market. Public and private funds exist to help attach cash flows to the public benefits provided by landowners that responsibly manage their land. Currently, conservationists and investors alike are moving into this space in hopes of achieving a win-win for the economy and the environment.
So, what do Ecosystem Services projects look like? Who are the practitioners involved and what skills are most important in terms of getting into the profession? What obstacles and opportunities does this field face? These questions and more (including those from the audience) will be addressed.

More information here.

Introduction to Ecosystem Services (Webinar)

WHEN:  March 29, 2012  | 12:00PM

WHERE:  Online webinar
COST:  Free
ORGANIZER:  CBEY
 
Featuring Yale alumna Katherine Hamilton, Managing Director at Forest Trends’ Ecosystem Marketplace.
This is the first edition of the three-part webinar series, “Nature’s Returns: Investing in Ecosystem Services”. Featured presenter Katherine Hamilton ’06 M.E.M, Managing Director at Forest Trends’ Ecosystem Marketplace, will provide a primer on Ecosystem Services before taking questions from the audience.
 
The Center for Business and the Environment at Yale (CBEY) is pleased to announce a special series of webinars on investing in the services provided by nature — so called ecosystem services. The benefits that human populations gain from healthy and functioning ecosystems are vast, yet traditionally difficult to quantify in financial terms. Clean drinking water filtered by forests, carbon stored in plants or soil, crop pollination by wild insects, and pharmaceutical uses of plants are just a few examples of services we usually receive for free. However, a recent wave of efforts to monetize the value of Ecosystem Services presents an opportunity to both protect these assets and bring their worth onto the market. Public and private funds exist to help attach cash flows to the public benefits provided by landowners that responsibly manage their land. Currently, conservationists and investors alike are moving into this space in hopes of achieving a win-win for the economy and the environment.
So, what do Ecosystem Services projects look like? Who are the practitioners involved and what skills are most important in terms of getting into the profession? What obstacles and opportunities does this field face? These questions and more (including those from the audience) will be addressed.

More information here.

 

Planet Under Pressure

Key Aims

The key aims of the conference include:

  • 2500 participants combining global-change science and policy, business and development communities
  • Scientific leadership towards the 2012 UN Rio +20 conference
  • Building trans-disciplinary research communities
  • Identifying opportunities for enhanced partnerships between global change science and policy, industry and the public
  • A new vision for international research

Building on a comprehensive update of knowledge of the Earth system and the pressure it is under, the Planet Under Pressure conference will present and debate new insights into potential opportunities and constraints for innovative development pathways based on novel partnerships.

See more details here