GLF Climate 2025: Agenda

Meet and connect with people from all over the world working towards a sustainable future. You will be randomly matched with other participants and have the chance to chat for a few minutes. After that, the platform will automatically assign you another participant to chat with. Always make sure to briefly introduce yourself and start by explaining why you’re interested in the conference themes and how they relate to your work.

The climate agenda is not only a puzzle of funding and policy – it’s a test of whether the world is willing to truly recognize and trust those who are already regenerating ecosystems and protecting lives. Even as pledges abound, grassroots-led initiatives remain underfunded, underrepresented and underestimated. Bold, unapologetic and grounded in proof from the ground, this dialogue urges negotiators and institutions to move beyond rhetoric and align global commitments with those already delivering transformation where it matters most.

Enjoy some coffee, tea and light snacks in the morning before the conference begins. Get chatting with fellow participants and ease into a day of inspiring sessions and networking.

Up to 89% of the world’s population wants their governments to do more to tackle the climate crisis. This opening plenary will take us beyond abstract targets to confront what this could look like in practice. It will convene multiple perspectives, including Indigenous knowledge, climate science and technology to tackle adaptation, accountability, and synergies between the Rio Conventions. We will also critique the worrying state of global climate action and highlight ideas and initiatives emerging from across the Global South. Join us to discuss how these interconnections and lived experiences can inform and reshape our future.

From Brazil’s Indigenous territories to the wetlands of the Bolivian highlands, this showcase explores how local communities are leading the way in restoring the planet’s most fragile ecosystems. Through stories from the Restoration Stewards and GLFx networks, this episode captures the spirit of collaboration, resilience and care that drives restoration efforts across Latin America. Each voice reflects a shared mission to heal the land, empower people and nurture a more regenerative and hopeful future for all.

Smallholders are at the heart of blue–green landscape management. They play a crucial role in sustaining and restoring interconnected ecosystems, from upland forests to farmlands, rivers, wetlands, and coasts. Their practices, such as agroforestry and community-based forest management, not only enhance productivity but also sustain water flows, improve soil health, and strengthen climate resilience across entire watersheds.

However, mangrove and wetland stewards remain undervalued in many policy frameworks. It will be critical to integrate these actors into land use and adaptation planning to achieve holistic, climate-smart landscape management.

This session by CIFOR-ICRAF will explore how a focus on blue–green landscapes and watersheds can encourages more integrated climate and biodiversity action – where forests, farms, and coasts are managed together for resilient people and nature.

In this workshop, attended by participants from diverse backgrounds, we will explore the challenges and opportunities of telling climate stories through investigative journalism. In small groups and guided by seasoned journalists, participants will act as ‘story planners’ – shaping an investigation step by step, from defining its purpose and audience to mapping sources, assessing risks and outlining publication strategies, as well as analyzing real-world case studies of published investigations. The workshop aims to encourage participants to think critically about how reporting can engage audiences and drive climate action.
The workshop will be offered twice. Select your preferred session and apply here to participate: 14 November (18:00–19:15) in the House of Socio-Environmental Journalism (https://maps.app.goo.gl/u55S99jQ6PCLRFBF9, near Praça da República, in Belém, PA) Moderator: Flora Pereira | Speakers: Brigitte Escobar, Flavio Ferreira and Gustavo Faleiros17 November (10:30–11:45) in the Blue Zone: Action on Food Hub on (Blue Zone accreditation required).
Moderator: Matthias Kopp | Speakers: Edilma Prada Céspedes, Maria Darrigo and Delger Erdenesanaa

Introductory panel with simultaneous interpretation from Spanish and Portuguese into English. Discussions will take place with participants assigned tables based on their preferred language: English, Spanish, or Portuguese.

Spaces are limited. Applications are now closed. Any questions? Contact Kelly Quintero at k.quintero@cifor-icraf[dot]org

This session will explore key success factors for implementing and scaling integrated approaches in the context of agricultural and food system transformation, focusing on agroecology, climate-resilient agriculture and soil fertility management. It will look at practical examples that demonstrate how climate action, biodiversity protection and sustainable land management can produce synergies that can transform food systems at national and subnational levels. Speakers will include representatives from governments, civil society and the private sector, highlighting the pivotal role of women and youth as change agents in food system transformation.

“Following the Roots” is a journey of hope and renewal. It follows farmers from the village of Padasenang in Sukabumi, West Java, Indonesia, as they begin their journey in landscape restoration and agroforestry with support from the Patera Foundation (GLFx Java).
Visiting Cipeuteuy, a nearby village with two decades of successful agroforestry and social forestry practices, they learn from experienced peers and find renewed confidence to shape a more sustainable future for their community and environment.
Through shared wisdom and community spirit, they discover that restoring the land also means restoring their future.

Sustainable agriculture is central to achieving resilient food systems, inclusive growth, environmental sustainability and climate resilience. GEF-funded Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration (FOLUR) countries are demonstrating that scaling regenerative, climate-smart and nature-based solutions, such as agroforestry, soil and water conservation, diversified cropping and integrated farming can enhance productivity, restore ecological health and improve livelihoods.
This session will bring together FOLUR countries to exchange best practices and discuss enabling policy environments, including FOLUR-supported initiatives and tools such as UNDP’s Targeted Scenario Analysis and WRI’s Policy Accelerator to strengthen outcomes. It will also feature insights from Ghana on aligning with the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) through coherent policies and farmer engagement.

Join us for a lunch break, a perfect opportunity to network, share ideas, and recharge with fellow participants.

Standing at the mouth of the Amazon in Belém, where the river meets the sea, this powerful speech reframes how we see forests – not just as carbon vaults, but as the beating heart of Earth’s water system. Robert Nasi, CIFOR’s Director General and CIFOR-ICRAF’s Director of Science, reveals how trees create rain, regulate climate, and sustain billions of lives through a vast “biotic pump” connecting continents. With new science and undeniable urgency, Dr Nasi calls for COP30 to recognize forests as essential water infrastructure – valuing their hydrological services, empowering Indigenous stewards, and integrating the forest-water-climate nexus into all climate action. The message is clear: protecting forests is not only about carbon; it’s about preserving the sky’s ability to weep – and humanity’s ability to thrive.

This session will only be in English.

Climate action is not just about policies, reports or pledges on paper – it’s fundamentally about people, relationships and the systems that connect them. Each of us brings experience, insight and perspective that can help turn commitments into real change. This is a space for storytelling, collaboration and co-creation, where we’ll explore barriers, identify opportunities and imagine practical steps that move us from silos to systems, from promises to real, regenerative change. Join us as we foster inclusive, equitable and impactful solutions across landscapes and communities.

Objectives
By the end of this 45-minute session, participants will:Exchange perspectives on how to move beyond pledges toward transformative and grounded implementation.Identify shared challenges and opportunities across themes.Shape key messages and co-create achievable collaborative actions that reflect the GLF Climate 2025 vision: “From promises to real action, from silos to systems, from extractive to regenerative economies, and from exclusion to equitable governance.”

This session will highlight the power of partnerships in advancing sustainable development across diverse landscapes. Panelists will share insights from decades of collaboration, emphasizing how networks like the International Model Forest Network (IMFN) and other initiatives foster innovation, resilience and long-term impact.
Established at the 1992 UN Conference in Rio alongside the three conventions themselves, the IMFN exemplifies how strategic alliances evolve with global priorities. Join us to explore solutions to our shared challenge and practical examples of how collective action – through trusted partnerships – continues to be our strongest tool for a sustainable future.

2026 will mark 15 years since the launch of the Bonn Challenge. This milestone offers an opportunity to reflect on the initiative’s transformational impact on ecosystems, climate mitigation and community resilience. With over 220 million hectares pledged to date, the Bonn Challenge has catalyzed global political will and tangible restoration action across continents.
As we count down to 2030, this session will celebrate progress, assess implementation gaps and renew ambition to scale restoration under the evolving context of climate and biodiversity goals.

Join Summer Dean, aka Climate Diva, for an inspiring call to reimagine our bond with the Earth. Through creativity, fashion, and storytelling, she unveils a bold new vision for a planet in healing – where climate action becomes joyful, stylish, and part of everyday life. With courage and imagination, Summer invites us to spark a radical collective transformation and make caring for the Earth the most beautiful trend of all.

From the lush forest of the Amazon to the life-filled savannas of the Cerrado and the mangroves of Central America, our landscapes tell stories of resilience, community and change. During the first GLF LAC assembly participants reflected on why COP30 matters for our region and how our voices must lead the way.

The time for incremental fixes and surface-level commitments is over. We are at a crossroads that demands a deeper, more fundamental shift in society. To wrap up GLF Climate, we will confront a critical question: how do we stop talking about change and start building it? We will explore how embracing experimentation and navigating uncertainty is key to avoiding the pitfalls of false solutions. Furthermore, we will critically assess the role of coalitions and networks in forming effective collaborations – turning fragmented efforts into powerful collective action.

Drop by our online https://connect.globallandscapesforum.org/e/climate-2025/portal/lounge/nl_15152 – a closing reception for you to laugh a little, breathe out and turn today’s insights into next steps. Cameras are optional: jump on our live video call or join us in the chat. Pop in and out as you like. We’ll decompress, share stories and explore ideas that keep us moving toward climate action. Guiding questions (for chat and video): What resonated with you the most from today’s event?How does what you heard connect with your own thoughts and practices?Where do you find the energy to keep pushing for climate justice?What helps you stay connected to your values when things get complex?What’s the most important idea for us to explore right now?What is something that feels out of reach now but could be worth exploring later?

Join us for a special closing reception to wrap up GLF Climate. Meet colleagues from a wide range of backgrounds, enjoy drinks and food and celebrate the day.