Scaling up global action for peatlands: The Peatland Breakthrough and Call for Experts

Peatlands are among the most powerful natural allies in tackling the global climate, biodiversity, and water crises. When managed wisely, they are champions of climate change mitigation and adaptation, as well as biodiversity protection. However, when drained and degraded, they become major sources of greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss.

To unlock their full potential, the Peatland Breakthrough (PB) is a call to action that brings together public and private stakeholders around a shared vision to upscale and accelerate peatland conservation, restoration, and sustainable management worldwide. The PB builds on the experience of previous breakthroughs under the 2030 Breakthroughs agenda, and shares synergies with the Freshwater Challenge and UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.

Led by key partners—including  Wetlands International, UN Environment Programme, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Global Environment Centre, and the Greifswald Mire Centre (GMC) — and in collaboration with the High Level Climate Champions Team, the Convention on Wetlands and the Global Peatlands Initiative, the PB aims to move from fragmented efforts to coordinated, large-scale, landscape-level action.

From vision to action: A two-phase process

The Peatland Breakthrough will unfold in two key phases:

• Development phase (pre-COP30): The current phase focuses on building momentum by establishing a shared vision and enhancing public awareness, setting scientifically robust and widely accepted targets, and engaging a wide range of stakeholders through an inclusive process.
• Implementation phase (post-COP30): Following the official launch at UNFCCC COP30 (November 2025), the focus will shift to turning targets into action across global, regional, and national levels—supported by finance, policy, and best practices.

The PB is coordinated by a Steering Group and four thematic Working Groups: Targets & Knowledge, Partner Engagement & Advocacy, Resource Mobilization, and Communications. Together, they work to ensure technical rigor, inclusiveness, and strategic direction.

Join the process: Call for Experts

As part of the current development phase, the Targets & Knowledge Working Group,  co-chaired by the Greifswald Mire Centre and FAO, is inviting peatland experts from around the world to contribute to the co-development of science-based global targets for peatlands.

Two virtual stakeholder consultations will be held on 3rd and 5th June 2025, followed by a peer review process in July–August 2025. This is a key opportunity to share your expertise and help shape targets and guiding principles that are credible, science-based, and applicable across regions and sectors—laying the foundation for impactful implementation beyond COP30.

We encourage participation from professionals with at least 10–15 years of experience in peatland science, policy, conservation, restoration, or management; and historically underrepresented stakeholders including those with traditional ecological knowledge, and youth voices related to peatlands. Final selection will be made by the organizers to ensure balanced representation.

📅 Register by 9 May 2025 to participate:
👉 Click here to register

Join us in advancing this global breakthrough for peatlands!