On October 14 and 15, the Open Science Conference and the First Scientific Committee Workshop of Ecosystem Restoration and Carbon Neutrality Programme (Global ERCaN) were organized in Beijing. The events were participated by policymakers, scientists, and UN agency representatives.

The Open Science Conference shared the latest development on science related to ecosystem restoration and carbon neutrality from renowned scientists around the world. Dr. Linxiu Zhang, Director of UNEP-IEMP, moderated the opening session. In her introduction remarks, she emphasized that ecosystem restoration and achieving carbon neutrality have emerged as critical challenges in our pursuit of a sustainable future. She also encouraged the participants - global researchers, scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders - to exchange knowledge, ideas, and experiences in addressing these pressing issues of escalating impacts of climate change and escalating loss of biodiversity.

The venue for the Open Science Conference

The First Scientific Committee Workshop aimed to share and discuss the research gap analysis and science plan of the whole programme as well as its 4 themes. UNEP-IEMP, as part of the Global ERCaN team, also shared ideas, particularly on enhancing stakeholder engagement and raising visibility and uptake.

Global-ERCaN, funded by CAS under the CAS International Partnership Program, aims to provide a global collaboration platform on ecological restoration and carbon neutralization, with focuses on monitoring, research, restoration technology, and solutions for policymakers. UNEP-IEMP is part of the programme to facilitate global collaboration and enhance science for policy.