Peatlands can make or break global climate goals: official launch of the Global Peatland Hotspot Atlas at COP29, Baku.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE: Peatlands degrading in 177 countries, putting climate goals at risk

Today during the UN Climate Change Conference in Baku, The Global Peatland Hotspot Atlas: The State of the World’s Peatlands was officially launched.  This landmark atlas, published by the UN Environment Programme, evaluates the current status of peatlands worldwide and highlights the serious threats they face through a series of dynamic maps.  

Two ministers of environment, supported by five leading experts, came together to highlight the urgent need to scale up efforts towards peatland conservation, restoration and sustainable management. Peatlands, present in 177 out of 193 UN member states, are critical carbon sinks and biodiversity havens. Yet agriculture, urbanisation, deforestation and industrial activities are seriously harming them and putting climate goals at risk. 

The Global Peatland Hotspot Atlas evaluates the current status of peatlands worldwide – highlighting the serious threats they face and identifying the most at-risk regions. By compiling a series of maps that analyse the location of peatlands in relation to their threats, the Atlas offers a comprehensive overview of the most vulnerable areas that need protection. “Peatlands, nature’s carbon vaults, can make or break global climate goals” says Susan Gardner, Ecosystems Division Director at UN Environment Programme, as part of the publication.

The launch event “Revealing Global Peatland Hotspot for Climate Action: Bridging Science & Policy” showcased the latest available tools and data and emphasized the urgent need for scalable financial solutions to support peatland actions. The panelists, representing three countries, shared their efforts in sustainable peatland management, highlighting success initiatives and collaborative approaches that inspire further global action. 

The event was organised under the efforts of the Global Peatlands Initiative, with the Michael Succow Foundation, partner in the Greifswald Mire Centre, Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, Wetlands International, Global Environment Centre, UN Environment Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations guiding the efforts.

More details to come!