Top left: Torey Carter-Conneen; top right: Pamela Conrad, ASLA; bottom left: Kotchakorn Voraakhom, International ASLA; bottom right: Kongjian Yu, FASLAThe American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) has sent two delegates to COP28 in Dubai, where they are joining two other global landscape architecture leaders. This is the second year ASLA has been an NGO observer to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties (COP) process.
Landscape architect delegates available for media interviews during and after COP:
- Torey Carter-Conneen, CEO, American Society of Landscape Architects (COP28 Dates: December 5-9)
- Pamela Conrad, ASLA, LEED AP, Founder, Climate Positive Design; Senior Fellow, Architecture 2030; Faculty Lecturer, Harvard Graduate School of Design; and Vice-Chair, Climate and Biodiversity Group Working Group, International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA) (COP28 Dates: December 2-11)
- Kongjian Yu, FASLA, Founder, Turenscape, and Professor and Dean, College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, Peking University, and winner of the 2023 Cornelia Hahn Oberlander International Landscape Architecture Prize. (COP Dates: December 7-10)
- Kotchakorn Voraakhom, International ASLA, Founder, Landprocess; Chair, Climate and Biodiversity Group Working Group, International Federation of Landscape Architects; Faculty Design Critic, Harvard Graduate School of Design; Visiting Fellow, University of Pennsylvania. (COP Dates: November 30-December 18)
These delegates are experts on:
- Nature-based solutions
- Ecosystem-based adaptation
- Landscape and regional planning
- Landscape architecture
- Biodiversity
- Climate equity and justice
These speakers will present in these blue zone sessions:
Nature-based Solutions and the Built Environment: Designing for Resilience, Drawdown and Biodiversity
Friday, December 8
7.45 AM – 9.15 AM EST / 4.45 PM – 6.15 PM GST
Official COP28 Side Event, SE Room 9, Blue Zone
“Nature-based solutions to the climate and biodiversity crises provide carbon benefits and economic, equity, biodiversity, and public health co-benefits. Planning and designing with ecosystems can help global communities reduce GHG emissions by 50% by 2030 and protect and conserve 30% of ecosystems by 2030.”
Speakers:
- Torey Carter-Conneen, ASLA CEO
- Pamela Conrad, ASLA
- Dr. Siddharth Narayan, Assistant Professor, Integrated Coastal Programs, East Carolina University (American Society of Civil Engineers [ASCE])
- Kotchakorn Voraakhom, International ASLA
- Moderator: Lisa Richmond, Senior Fellow, Architecture 2030
Investing in Nature
Saturday, December 9
2:00 AM – 3:00 AM EST / 11:00 AM – 12:00 AM GST
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank Pavilion, Blue Zone
“Well-functioning and diverse ecosystems regulate the Earth’s climate, build resilience to the impacts of climate change, and enhance the sustainable management of water and land. Forests, wetlands, coral reefs can effectively provide infrastructure functions while delivering additional climate and biodiversity co-benefits.”
Speaker:
Accelerating Finance for Nature-based Solutions: Unlocking Opportunities for Sustainable Development
Saturday, December 9
5:30 AM – 6:45 AM EST / 2:30 PM – 3:45 PM GST
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Pavilion, Blue Zone
Co-hosted by the French Development Agency (AFD) and The International Development Finance Club (IDFC)
Livestream
“Despite increasing global interest in nature-based solutions, lack of financing remains a major barrier to implementing these solutions at scale. This event will bring together development partners and government officials at the ministerial level alongside IUCN to discuss and launch initiatives that could potentially accelerate financing for nature-based
solutions to implement plans at national and sub-national levels.”
Keynote speaker: