IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature

• A clear case outlining the role and functions of protected areas in assisting the global community to deal with progressive climate change is clearly articulated, understood and broadly communicated
• The key implications for science, policy and practice to provide a foundation for a committed and co-operative programme of action on protected areas and climate change to 2020 are identified

1. Celebrate the 20th anniversary of protected area legislation in Andalucía, Spain, and provide technical and policy input for the on-going process of legislative review on protected areas and climate change.
2. Review and discuss the findings of the publication “Natural Solutions: Protected areas helping the world cope with climate change” and plan follow-up actions.
3. Demonstrate and compile further case studies on protected area solutions for climate mitigation and adaptation.
4. Develop a message for Parties to the UNFCCC and to the CBD and other relevant conventions regarding appropriate policy and practice measures for protected area systems in responding to climate change, and in particular to promote national commitments to incorporating PAs into climate change response strategies.
5. Develop a 5 year follow-up programme for science, policy and practice of protected areas in climate change mitigation and adaptation, and identify potential partners, roles and responsibilities.

The Overall Goal is to:

“Ensure that protected areas and protected area systems are recognised as an important contribution to climate change adaptation/mitigation strategies for biodiversity and human livelihoods”

The Specific Purpose of this project is that

“The conservation community formulates, adopts, promotes and pilots a united and compelling case and action plan for protected areas as a key part of climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies”

Piloting and further implementation of the action plan will build on existing regional conservation strategies and projects of IUCN member and partner organisations, including national governments and non-governmental organisations.

The project encompasses the following main activities

1. A situation analysis leading to the articulation of a compelling case and action plan for protected areas as an integral element of climate change adaptation/mitigation.
2. Guidance and project proposals are developed for regional implementation programmes.
3. A policy action plan is agreed by key stakeholders.
4. Protected area and climate change policy interventions are designed and undertaken at global and national levels. 
5. A functional communications/learning network is developed (cross-cutting objective).

The Andalucía Protected Areas Summit will mark the culmination of the first phase of this project, where:

• The evidence for the role of protected areas in climate change responses will be presented, discussed and communicated;
• Policy positions and technical proposals will be offered to the international community and national governments to recognize and support protected area systems as a fundamental component of societal adaptation to climate change;
•  A committed partnership among several organisations will be discussed to develop further guidance on implementation of protected area climate strategies.

The timing coincides with the celebration of Andalucía’s 20th anniversary of its protected area legislation and the development of climate change response strategies in this Autonomous Community of Spain. It takes place during the process whereby the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Programme of Work on Protected Areas is under review and important findings will be channelled into that review.