Solutions Dinners at COP30
As founding partners of the TERRA COP30 Action Agenda for the mainstreaming of agroecology and agroforestry, NOW Partners Foundation, Brazil’s Ministry for Agrarian Development and Family Farming and Global Academy are co-hosting a series of Solutions Dinners during COP30 in Belem. All dinners are by invitation only.
November 13
COP30 Action Agenda: Scaling Agroecology, Productive Forests and Blended Finance
Co-hosted by: Brazil’s Ministry for Agrarian Development and Rural Family Farming (MDA) and NOW Partners Foundation
Leaders in family farming, agroforestry, bio-economy, finance and government, including the UN, Danone, Imaflora, Natura, Rockefeller and Rainforest Foundations offer short contributions to inspire solution-oriented dialogues on how to strengthen farmer incomes, rural economies and communities, food security, health, biodiversity and the climate by large-scaling whole system solutions.
Comments from:
Paulo Teixeira, Brazil’s Minister for Agrarian Development and Family Farming
Walter Link, NOW Partners Foundation & Global Academy
Leonardo Andrade, NOW Partners Foundation & Global Academy
Fernanda Machiavelli, MDA’s Vice Minister
Thomás Cooper Patriota translates for Fernanda, Head of international Affairs at MDA, TERRA co-lead
Moises Savian, MDA Secretary for Florestas Productives
Joice Lopes, MST National Coordination and President of Northwestern Sao Paulo State Producers Regional Cooperative (COOPREN)
Marina Piatto, CEO Imaflora and Origens for Forest
Tørris Jæger, Executive Director, Rainforest Foundation
Rosinah Mbenya, Country Coordinator, PELUM Kenya
Federico Bellone, Manager for Regenerative Agriculture, Rockefeller Foundation
Christopher Adamo, head of Global Sustainability Impact & B Corp, Danone
Paulo Dallari, Government Affairs Director of Natura &Co Latin America Natura
November 15
Voices for Climate and Nature: From the Amazon to Australia
Co-hosted by: Australian Conservation Foundation, Food Tank, NOW Partners Foundation, Future Economy Forum
“Voices for Climate and Nature: From the Amazon to Australia” will bring together Indigenous leaders, farmers, funders, and innovators to highlight tangible, cross-sector solutions that protect biodiversity, uphold First Nations rights, and accelerate the transition to nature-friendly renewable energy and agriculture.
Highlighting voices from the Amazon to Australia, this evening of music, story, food and authentic dialogue, will cultivate an atmosphere of collaborative action and shared commitment as we look forward to COP31.
Speakers include:
Danielle Nierenberg, Food Tank (MC)
Hunter Lovins, NOW Partners Foundation
Josie Alec, First Nations Lead, Australian Conservation Foundation
Puyr Tembé, First Secretary for Indigenous Peoples of the State of Pará, Brazil
Dr Karla Nunes Penna, Architect, Anthropologist and Cultural Heritage Specialist
Gavan McFadzean, Australian Conservation Foundation
Heidi Douglas, CEO, Solar Citizens
Dylan Kava, Strategic Engagement and Communications Lead at the Pacific Islands Climate Action Network (PICAN)
Paulo Dallari, Government Affairs Director of Natura &Co Latin America Natura
November 17
Carbon Markets, Innovative Finance and Regenerative Solutions
Co-hosted by: Foundation Development and Climate Alliance, MyClimate, NOW Partners Foundation
This exclusive evening convenes senior leaders and policymakers to deepen dialogues on strengthening Carbon Markets under the Paris Agreement, focusing on both Voluntary Carbon Markets and Article 6 implementation. Participants will explore collaborative opportunities, taking stock of market activities and showcasing the co-benefits and impact of critical projects and their beneficiaries, particularly in Agriculture, Forestry, and Land Use sectors. Beyond a one-off event, we curate an atmosphere to cultivate action plans and alliances for on-going collaboration and partnership.
Speakers Include:
Danielle Nierenberg, Food Tank (MC)
Peter Renner, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Foundation Development and Climate Alliance
Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong *
Pauline Nantongo Kalunda, Executive Director of Ecotrust in Uganda
Ahmed Elshazly, Vice President Community Development and Partnerships at Heliopolis University/ Sekem
Mr. Rogelio Humberto Campos García, Directorate-General for Climate Change and Desertification | Technical Specialist in NDCs and Cooperative Approaches, Ministry of the Environment, Perú *
Merijn Dols, Managing Partner, NOW Partners Foundation and Global Academy *
Dr. Olivia Henke, Director, Foundation Development and Climate Alliance
Nsikan George Eman, Senior Project Manager Bilateral Cooperation, myclimate
Carbon Markets, Innovative Finance and Regenerative Solutions Speaker Bios:
Dr. Nsikan-George Emana Dr. Nsikan-George Emana is part of the Bilateral Cooperation team in myclimate Foundation where she supports Article 6 cooperative and international compliance market activities. Her primary focus is on Article 6.4 requirements and operational practice. She is responsible for managing Article 6.2 framework activities between ITMO buying and selling countries including the implementation of methodologies, methodological tools and Article 6 market guidance. In her previous and current roles, Nsikan-George has been providing advisory services on carbon market and consulting strategies, working with local Partners in the implementation of low emission activities. She supports sub-regional governments in carbon market projects through mapping sectoral activities with greater market opportunities. Dr. Nsikan-George’s advisory capacities are strengthened by her climate scientific research background, in-depth familiarity on international climate (UNFCCC) processes and technical knowledge on regulatory standards. In this regard, Dr. Nsikan-George Emana has worked with various stakeholders through the West African Alliance on Carbon Markets and Climate Finance, the EU Mayors for Climate and Energy Programme for Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as the Niger state government of Nigeria all in strengthening carbon market readiness activities. Nsikan-George Emana holds a PhD in Earth Sciences from the Johanna Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany. She also holds a Master’s degree in Climate Change Science from the University of East Anglia, Norwich, England, a Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Management from the Federal University of Technology in NIger state, Nigeria and a Higher National Diploma in Science Laboratory Technology from CRUTECH, Calabar. She has acquired certificates from several short courses and she is a member of several scientific and professional organizations
Dr. Ahmed Elshazly is the Vice President for Community Development and Partnerships at Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development. He previously held the position of Director of the Sponsored Programs, Centers and International Relations at Heliopolis University and SEKEM. Ahmed is a coordinator of several research and capacity building projects funded by national and international funding bodies. He was the national representative of Egypt in the 1st Global Planning Meeting for the UN Decade of Ocean Sciences for Sustainable Development. He is a member of the Jean Monnet Center of Excellence on Sustainable Blue Economy. He participated in COP 27, 28 and 29 of the UNFCCC, COP16 of the UNCCD and the 3rd UN Ocean Conference.
Karina Barrera is the Executive Director of the Center for Future Thinking and Cluster. With over 20 years of experience in climate change, sustainable development, and environmental governance, she has led high-impact initiatives that bridge public policy, green finance, and international cooperation. Her work fosters strategic partnerships between governments, private sector actors, and Indigenous communities across Ecuador and Latin America.Karina holds a degree in Chemical Engineering, with postgraduate studies in Business Administration and Environmental Management. She has served in key public sector roles in Ecuador, including as Undersecretary for Climate Change, Chair of the Board of the National Institute of Hydrometeorology (INAMHI), and Advisor to the Ministry of Environment. Internationally, Karina is an active member of the Global Adaptation Committee of the UNFCCC, contributing to global strategies for climate resilience and sustainable Development.
Mr. Noah Gyimah is an investment banker and a multifaceted C-Suite business executive with over 25 years of experience in Capital Markets, M&A, Corporate Restructuring, Climate Finance, Private Equity, Fintech, Organizational & Executive Coaching, and Management Consulting. He is the Chief Investment Officer at Jospong Group of Companies where he leads investment and climate and sustainable finance strategies across the group of 60+ subsidiaries.
Noah served as an executive at JPMorgan Chase for over 13 years where he held several leadership roles in the US across Corporate & Investment Bank, Treasury & Security Services, Global Finance Technology, and Consumer & Community Bank.
Among other qualifications, Noah holds MBA in Banking & Finance and International Business Strategy from Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland OH, BSc in Mathematics and Statistics from the University of Ghana, MA in Clinical Counseling, Certified Organizational & Executive Coach, Certificate in Sustainable Finance from Cambridge University, and Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute, USA.
