Sep 2026 IGGRC President Fawn Sharp and Director of Partnerships Francesca Hillery attended New York Climate Week, representing IGGRC in conversations about climate action, carbon removal, and Indigenous leadership. Francesca participated as a panelist in Carbon180’s “Moving at the Speed of Trust” event, joining a discussion titled “By What Measure: Who Gets to Define Success for Climate Solutions?” The conversation explored why climate solutions should be evaluated not only by tons removed, funding secured, or projects deployed, but also by the relationships, local knowledge, and community capacity that make responsible action possible. It also underscored the importance of recognizing Tribal and community expertise—and ensuring that communities have the voice and resources to shape climate solutions on their own terms.

July 2026 Francesca Hillery moderated two panels during PNW Climate Week. On July 15, she led “Finance, Governance, and Indigenous Participation in mCDR” during Oceans as Climate Heroes: mCDR Day. The following day, she moderated a panel during Carbon Removal Day: Cleaning Up Climate Pollution, focused on terrestrial carbon removal. Together, the discussions explored how governance, environmental justice, Tribal rights, and Indigenous leadership can shape the growing carbon removal field.

June 2026 Francesca Hillery moderated two panels during PNW Climate Week. On July 15, she led “Finance, Governance, and Indigenous Participation in mCDR” during Oceans as Climate Heroes: mCDR Day. The following day, she moderated a panel during Carbon Removal Day: Cleaning Up Climate Pollution, focused on terrestrial carbon removal. Together, the discussions explored how governance, environmental justice, Tribal rights, and Indigenous leadership can shape the growing carbon removal field.

May 2026 | Halifax, Canada Fawn Sharp, President of the IGGRC, and Francesca Hillery, IGGRC Director of External Affairs & Partnerships, joined a recent episode of Plan Sea recorded at Carbon to Sea’s 2026 Annual Convening in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In conversation with hosts Anna Madlener and Danny Gawlowski, Fawn and Francesca joined Ken Paul, Principal of Pokiok Associates and member of the Wolastoqey Nation at Neqotkuk, to discuss Indigenous knowledge systems, ocean-based carbon dioxide removal, and the future of ocean alkalinity enhancement. The episode explores why meaningful partnership, sovereignty, and Indigenous-led science and governance are essential to responsible ocean climate solutions. Speakers also discuss the risks of advancing ocean carbon removal without Indigenous collaboration, including premature scaling and the commodification of nature. Learn more & listen to the podcast.

May 2026 | Halifax, Canada This May, Fawn Sharp and Francesca Hillery participated in Carbon to Sea’s fourth Annual Convening in Halifax Halifax, Canada, joining researchers, policymakers, industry leaders, and civil society representatives working on ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) and related marine carbon dioxide removal approaches. The convening brought participants together for presentations, workshops, discussions, and site visits focused on scientific research, governance, community engagement, and responsible development in the evolving ocean carbon removal field. As conversations around marine carbon dioxide removal continue to develop, Indigenous leadership and governance perspectives remain essential to shaping how these approaches are researched, governed, and implemented. Learn more about the convening from Carbon to Sea, including a video of Fawn Sharp’s opening remarks.

Sept 2025 - Mar 2026

The Forest Biomass Learning Network is a collaborative initiative hosted by the Indigenous Greenhouse Gas Removal Commission (IGGRC), Global Ocean Health’s Partnerships for Tribal Carbon Solutions program, the Carbon Business Council, and the Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal at American University. The Network provides a forum for Tribes, researchers, and industry innovators to explore emerging biomass utilization pathways, assess associated risks and opportunities, and consider how these approaches may align with Tribal priorities, land stewardship values, and sovereignty. As of March 2026, the group has convened four webinars. Through this engagement, IGGRC advances Indigenous leadership in carbon removal and strengthens opportunities for Tribes to participate in high-integrity forest carbon solutions.

Mar 30 - Apr 1, 2026 | Seattle, WA The IGGRC convened its inaugural gathering in Seattle, Washington, bringing together 13 participants, including Tribal leaders, technical experts, and strategic partners across climate, energy, and finance. The IGGRC Founding Tribes—the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe, and the Squaxin Island Tribe—were all present, alongside additional Tribal representatives, marking a major milestone in establishing IGGRC as a Tribal-led body advancing greenhouse gas removal. The gathering focused on aligning around a shared vision of Indigenous leadership in building new systems for climate action and finance, grounded in sovereignty, long-term stewardship, and intergenerational responsibility, with strong momentum to expand the coalition and advance this work moving forward.

Mar 2026 | Washington, DC

Francesca Hillery joined Fawn Sharp at Carbon to Sea’s 2026 Hill Day, where they met with Republican and Democratic Members of Congress and their staff to discuss ocean-based carbon dioxide removal (oCDR). Across nearly 50 Congressional offices, conversations focused on advancing responsible oCDR research and development and ensuring that emerging approaches reflect Tribal perspectives and priorities.