New Virtual Peatland Pavilion launched for COP29

First launched in 2021 as part of the Peatland Pavilion at COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, the Virtual Peatland Pavilions are huge virtual reality spaces filled with resources relating to peatlands around the globe. To raise awareness of the global importance of peatlands during COP29, the latest pavilion has been updated with exciting new content. 

Despite only covering around 3% of the world’s land surface, peatlands store more than twice as much carbon as the world’s forests. Sadly, many peatlands are damaged and have therefore become sources of carbon emissions. The Virtual Peatland Pavilion shares the work of the many and varied organisations working to restore and protect peatlands and champion their importance for biodiversity, carbon storage, flood management and as historical and cultural archives. 

The Virtual Peatland Pavilion is a joint initiative between the Global Peatlands Initiative and the IUCN UK Peatland Programme. 

The Virtual Peatland Pavilion situated in Baku for COP29

Designed and curated by Richard Lindsay at the University of East London, the latest pavilion is modelled on the leaves of peat-forming Sphagnum moss and sits in a landscape inspired by the architecture of Baku in Azerbaijan, where COP29 was held. 

The pavilion features an exciting mix of content, ranging from videos, animations, and cartoons accessible and easy to understand for the general public, to cutting-edge peatland policy reports and scientific briefings. As a giant dragonfly zooms overhead, step up to explore a virtual globe where you can visit peatlands around the world through immersive tours and photo stories. There are peatland podcasts, the latest peatland films, and displays of beautiful peatland artwork. 

The pavilion also features inspiring works from artists and organisations encouraging communities to engage creatively and playfully with peatlands. It offers a range of educational resources from dedicated organisations committed to advancing peatland knowledge and promoting their restoration. Visitors can also enjoy the beautiful footage of Scotland’s Flow Country, celebrated as the world’s first peatland UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

This virtual pavilion is a living legacy that will continue to be updated during major international conferences to showcase cutting-edge global peatland content. Stay tuned for an upcoming call for submissions in 2025 to feature new content. Enjoy the experience and share widely. 

So why not step inside and explore the latest Virtual Peatland Pavilion.