Nearly half of the world’s GDP depends on the services provided by nature. However, there remains a significant financing gap in global biodiversity conservation. Biodiversity finance is recognized as a critical tool for bridging this gap and achieving the targets set by the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). While substantial progress has been made in various areas of biodiversity finance since COP15, stronger , more coordinated efforts are still needed to close the funding gap.

At COP16, the AIIB, World Resource Institute (WRI) and the Secretariat for Partnership of Biodiversity and Finance (PBF Secretariat) will co-organize the Roundtable on “Invest in Nature: Progress and Future of Biodiversity Finance”. This event will bring together a diverse group of stakeholders, including decision-makers, private sectors, financial institutions, investors, academics, and civil society organizations (CSOs), with the following goals:

  1. Reviewing the progress in biodiversity finance over the past two years.
  2. Identifying the challenges and the gaps to achieve GBF targets.
  3. Reaching a consensus on the actions for the next steps.

Co-sponsors:

  • World Resources Institute (WRI)
  • Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)
  • PBF Secretariat

Speakers:

  • Adriana Lobo, Managing Director, Global Presence and National Action, WRI
  • Erik Berglof, Chief Economist, AIIB
  • Li Fang, Country Director, WRI China; Secretary- General of PBF Secretariat

Panelists:

  • Ministry of Ecology and Environment, People’s Republic of China (MEE) (TBD)
  • Henrik Linders, Head of Nature, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
  • Odette Lima Campos, Environmental Area Service Coordinator, Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES)
  • Chaode Ma, Assistant Resident Representative, Director of Planet Pillar, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
  • Danielle Carreira, Head of Finance Sector Engagement - Nature Positive, World Economic Forum (WEF)
  • Yunwen Bai, Vice President, Institute of Finance and Sustainability (IFS)