Considerations for integrating and enhacing Nature-Based Solutions into Nationally Determined Contributions: illustrating the potential through REDD+

Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) could provide a cost-effective solution to climate mitigation, adaptation, and slowing biodiversity loss. They are increasingly viewed as an effective strategy to address climate change and biodiversity loss, two of the biggest global challenges of this century. Drawing from REDD+ experience and lessons learned, this talk will highlight some of the considerations and potential solutions to enhance mitigation action through NBS in future iterations of NDCs. Seven key considerations will be presented to consider addressing when evaluating how to enhance the NDCs through NBS. For each consideration, experience from REDD+ implementation and how this could be relevant to a broader suite of NBS options will be shared.

Danae is an independent consultant. She is an environment and development specialist with 12 years of wide-ranging experience in tropical forestry, climate change, climate finance, biodiversity, partnership development (including with the private sector), project management and international policy development.
Before this she was a senior policy and technical advisor for the Climate and Forest Team for Asia-Pacific in Bangkok and a policy and technical advisor in New York with UNDP. Prior to joining UNDP, she was an independent consultant working on climate change, REDD+, forest and biodiversity issues with different clients (IGOs, World Bank, NGOs and private sector). Prior to that, she worked for the FAO focusing on REDD+.

Danae has work experience in Asia, Africa, South and Central America and has provided support to countries to develop investment frameworks to leverage climate finance, develop partnerships and private sector engagement and build capacity on technical issues related to national forest monitoring. She has supported the UNFCCC negotiations in technical support functions for various governments. Furthermore, she is a fellow of the Royal Geographic Society
and holds an MSc and PhD from the University of Oxford. She is also a public speaker and meeting facilitator.

Kimberly Todd is a Global Advisor based in New York, with the United Nations
Development Programme Climate and Forests Programme. She provides technical and policy advisory support to governments, with a primary focus on national forest monitoring systems and GHG inventory reporting in the context of REDD+. Kimberly also contributes substantively to UNDP corporate strategies, initiatives, analysis and knowledge products related to sustainable development and climate change policy, with a focus on the role of land use and forests.

Before joining UNDP in 2012, she was a Policy Analyst with the United States
Environmental Protection Agency. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Boston College as well as a Master of Science degree in Biology from Fordham University and a Master of Public Administration in Environmental Science and Policy from Columbia University.