Power to the Peatlands brings together policymakers, practitioners and experts from across Europe to share knowledge and drive progress on peatland restoration. As part of the conference, a dedicated political round table side event is taking place.
This session is targeted at those interested in the politics of peatlands and peatland policies. It highlights the success of various political restoration efforts while providing a forum for political discussion.
On 2nd September 2026, from 13:30–15:00, the European Peatland Policy Working Group (EPPWG) — endorsed by the European Peatlands Initiative (EPI) — will host an in-person political round table at Congrescentrum 1931 in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands (Room: Galloway). The timing is deliberate: the session falls right after the Member State submission deadline for the EU Nature Restoration Law (NRL), making it a timely space to ask what comes next.
What the session covers
The 90-minute workshop is designed to move the conversation from policy ambition to field-level delivery. Expect a strong political line-up:
- John Gormley, former Irish Minister for the Environment, on the political journey behind Ireland’s shift “from brown to green”
- David Healy, Ministerial Advisor, on the legal and political milestones that moved Ireland from peat extraction to peatland restoration
- Garreth Kratz, Advisor for Peatland Protection with the German Ministry of Environment, presenting Germany’s €1.75 billion state aid scheme for rewetting farmed peatlands
- Jan Sliva of Elmen EEIG, on the track record and future direction of the EU LIFE programme in peatland restoration
The session closes with a 30-minute international round table, chaired by Niall Ó Brolcháin, exploring the political implications of newly submitted National Restoration Plans under the NRL and comparable instruments elsewhere.
Who it’s for
This session is aimed at government representatives, policymakers, environmental managers, academics, civil society and industry experts — with an emphasis on drawing political and policy voices from across as many countries as possible. The QR code provides a link to the registration page, so if you are in one of these groups, you are welcome to join.
Getting involved
Places are limited: up to 100 in-person seats and 300 online. Online attendees can follow the presentations and submit comments by text, which will be visible to those in the room. Note that registration for this side event is separate from registration for the main Power to the Peatlands conference.
The full session plan — including the detailed running order, speaker biographies, and logistics — is available to read in full