• Background

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) sets the global goal of reversing biodiversity loss by 2030, and calls for mobilizing at least US$200 billion annually for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use in Target 19. However, the global biodiversity financing gap remains significant. While important agreements had been reached during COP15 and COP16 on the resource mobilization strategy, the operation of the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF), etc., but how to translate global commitments into actual investments and measurable conservation impact remained the central challenge in achieving the goals of the KMGBF.

The decision on resource mobilization adopted at COP16 made clear the need to mobilize resources from all sources, both public and private, domestic and international, and stressed the importance of multi-stakeholder engagement and whole-of-society action. However, current biodiversity finance faces a number of bottlenecks, including limited public funding, insufficient participation of private capital, inadequate participation mechanisms for companies and financial institutions, and a lack of effective collaboration platforms between different stakeholders. At the same time, the financial sector continues to face challenges in integrating biodiversity into investment decisions and business operations, making it difficult to scale biodiversity-related investments.

Under the COP17 theme "Taking Action for Nature", how to further the goal of mobilizing resources from all sources, leveraging the role of governments, multilateral development banks, financial institutions, corporations and other stakeholders to translate resource mobilization into actions and results through innovative financing models, partnerships and replicable practices has become an important issue facing global biodiversity governance. In-depth exchanges and experience sharing on these issues are of great practical significance for narrowing the global biodiversity financing gap and accelerating the achievement of the targets.

 

• Focuses

This side event aims to create a platform for policymakers, MDBs, international organizations, financial institutions, companies, and other stakeholders to share practical experiences, explore innovative solutions, and promote cross-sectoral cooperation to achieve Target 19 and accelerate implementation of the KMGBF. The side event will focus on the following topics:

 

• Mobilizing resources from multiple sources to transform into action: explore how to further scale up funding from public and private, domestic and international sources, optimize blended finance architecture, leverage public capital, develop policy instruments to scale up investment in nature. At the same time, the experience of MDBs and international financial institutions in project financing, policy support, capacity building and financing leveraging will be discussed, and their key role in promoting the implementation of the KMGBF.

 

• Leveraging companies and partnership to build a collaborative ecosystem in support of biodiversity finance: Explore how companies are integrating biodiversity into business decisions, supply chain management, and investment activities to move from commitment to action. Explore how international frameworks, such as the Task Force on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), can be applied across countries and regions to enhance the capacity of companies and financial institutions to identify, assess, and disclose nature-related risks and opportunities.

 

• Preliminary agenda

13:30 - 13:45	Opening remarks Host: China Speaker 1: Minister of Ecology and Environment of China Speaker 2: Valerie Hickey, Global Director for Environment, World Bank Speaker 3: Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of CBD (TBC)
13:45 - 14:05	Keynote speeches Host: China From mobilization to action: scaling up and impacting biodiversity finance
	13:40 - 13:50 Keynote speech 1 TBC, Global Environment Facility
	13:50 - 14:00 Keynote speech 2 TBC, World Bank
14:05 - 14:45	Round-table discussion Host: World Bank 4-5 representatives from MDBs/IOs, financial institutions, NGOs, and companies are to be invited to conduct the workshop   Topics for discussion: How can MDBs, financial institutions play a catalytic role in blended finance and innovative financial instruments to make biodiversity attractive for investment? How can international cooperation be strengthened to enhance the capacity to access and effectively utilize biodiversity funds, esp. for developing countries? How can businesses play an innovative role in mobilizing more private capital into biodiversity? How can businesses integrate biodiversity into business decisions, supply chain management, and investment activities to move from commitment to action?   Participants: Group A (Topic 1 and 2) The People’s Bank of China, Representatives from MDBs, TBC Representative from Brazil, Representative from EU/UK, Group B (Topic 3 and 4) Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China，Ltd. Forest Stewardship Council TBC TBC
14:45 - 14:50	Summary of the meeting Host:World Bank