Peatlands and wetlands are among the world’s most valuable natural assets, underpinning climate resilience, water security, biodiversity, and sustainable livelihoods. Yet despite their critical contribution to resilient economies and communities, they remain significantly underfinanced. Building on the momentum generated by recent international initiatives, including the launch of a report on financing European peatlands, the side event explored how public and private finance could be mobilized at scale to conserve, restore, and sustainably manage these ecosystems.

Bringing together governments, multilateral development banks, investors, project developers, and nature market practitioners, the discussion focused on practical pathways to transform peatland and wetland restoration into investable opportunities capable of delivering measurable climate, biodiversity, water, and socioeconomic benefits. Speakers examined emerging financing solutions, including blended finance, results-based mechanisms, nature credits, and other innovative approaches that could help build robust revenue models and unlock investment.

Against the backdrop of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and growing global commitments on resilience and adaptation, the session explored how peatlands and wetlands could become strategic investment platforms to strengthen economic resilience, reduce nature-related risks, and support long-term sustainable development. It highlighted lessons from European and international experience, identified key barriers to scaling finance, and discussed the enabling conditions, standards, and partnerships needed to develop a pipeline of high-integrity, bankable projects.

The event aimed to foster collaboration across the public and private sectors and advance a shared agenda for positioning peatlands and wetlands at the heart of nature finance, climate resilience, and sustainable growth strategies.

For the latest Agenda, click here.