Welcome to the Business Engagement Programme

7th Meeting of the Global Partnership for Business and Biodiversity

The 7th meeting for the Global Partnership for Business and Biodiversity took place at the National Natural History museum in Paris, France on 23-24 November 2017. Hosted by ORÉE, the French member of the Global Partnership, the first day welcomed 14 out of the 21 national and regional initiatives, along with two members of the secretariat of the CBD (SCBD) and one observer.

The first day of the meeting was an opportunity for each initiative to share their experiences and practices over the past year as well as their plans going forward. It was also a chance for the partnership to hear first-hand about the activities of the secretariat, in particular plans for the next COP and Business Forum, other engagements regarding mainstreaming in the key sectors of energy and mining, infrastructure and manufacturing and processing and ongoing research on biodiversity reporting. The Global Partnership members identified areas for collaboration and were eager to share information going forward. The SCBD is working on a more user-friendly business website where more information can be accessed and shared from the Global Partnership and other related organizations.

The meeting elected a new Chair of the Executive Committee of the Global Partnership, with George Jaksch representing Mesoamerican taking over from Elisa Dezolt from Brazil. The Executive Committee will play an active role in reviewing the current status of the partnership and contributing toward the planning of the Business Forum taking place at COP 14 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

Please see below presentations from Day 1

Day 2 of the meeting welcomed over 100 representatives including from a range of French businesses as well as the French Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the UN Global Compact and UN Environment - World Conservation Monitoring Centre, NGOs and other organizations. It was another unique opportunity to share experience and practices. French businesses highlighted their work to mainstream biodiversity into their operations as well as experience with reporting on biodiversity. Other related projects were presented such as the recent work under the Natural Capital Protocol and the work of UN Environment on Sustainable Consumption and Productions. More information from Day 2 of the meeting will be available soon including presentations.

Agenda and Minutes