We will

- Show how the IPBES Business & Biodiversity Assessment can be translated into practical business action in support and implementation of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)

- Showcase how business, finance, government, civil society, academia and communities can collaborate to mainstream biodiversity for businesses and the enabling environment.

- Identify the practical enablers needed to scale credible action, including governance, decision-useful data, investable projects, workable standards and a coherent policy and market environment

- Share UK-informed dialogue themes and implementation priorities that can support Parties and stakeholders as they review progress and consider action through and beyond 2030.

COP17 represents a critical milestone as Parties undertake the first global review of progress in implementing the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), at a time when the IPBES Business & Biodiversity Assessment is expected to shape future international and national policy expectations for business.

This side event will show how the key messages emerging from the IPBES process can be translated into practical action by business, government, finance, scientific institutions and communities, with a particular focus on the implementation challenges and opportunities identified through the UK Business & Biodiversity Forum working dialogues.

The session will highlight seven priority areas for business action: nature at the board level, building a durable community of nature actors and champions, financing nature, creating an enabling environment for business through and beyond 2030, improving nature data and tools, addressing nature across supply chains, and strengthening understanding of nature-related risks and opportunities in the insurance sector.

It will explore how clearer governance, stronger collaboration, more investable projects, better data, practical standards and more coherent policy signals can accelerate credible delivery, while linking these themes to national implementation, including the UK NBSAP, and to the wider international policy direction under the GBF.

 

Outline agenda

Context 10 mins)

• UNEP-WCMC (Matt Jones) – Overview of the IBBES Businesses & Biodiversity Assessment and how the assessment supports the GBF.

• JNCC - UK Government (Gemma Harper, CEO JNCC) – why the IPBES Business & Biodiversity Assessment matters for GBF implementation and business action, update on IPBES Business & Biodiversity Assessment outcomes – evidence, knowledge and data for business decision-making

• NatureScot / RSPB place-based partner – collaboration, delivery and implementation challenges in practice.
• UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology – on the importance of science and research in underpinning business decisions and government policy

Working dialogue spotlight (40 min)

• Call for action and support from UK and global business (Mark Johnston, UKBBF Director & ICC Biodiversity Working Group Chair)
• Nature at the board: governance, risk, resilience and long-term value
• Financing nature and building the enabling environment for credible action through and beyond 2030
• Nature data, supply chains and insurance: practical tools, responsibilities and market signals

Case studies of business in actions:

• Financing nature and transition planning – with Aviva plc (Thomas Viegas Group Nature Lead) and British International Investment plc (Meryl Wingfield, Director, Head of I&C Responsible Investing)
• Understanding nature risk in the insurance sector – with Gaia Sicura Ltd (William Butler, CEO)
• Use of data and metrics and alignment across international and national frameworks (Laura Homfrey, ARUP)
• How businesses work together address shared supply chain impacts and dependencies on nature - with Accenture (Bex Paffard, Sustainability Manager)
• Building the command centre for business action on nature, with Verna Earth (Helen Nyul, Director of Ecology)
• Nature Positive Transition Pathways and automated biodiversity monitoring technologies that provide partner countries and businesses with continuous data to support risk management, identifying ecological degradation, such as pollinator loss and invasive species, that could disrupt agricultural and forestry supply chains with UK CEH (Paula Harrison & Nick Isaac).

Interactive discussion (20 min)

• What do businesses and partners need most to move from commitment to implementation?
• Key implementation messages for COP17 and opportunities for continued collaboration after the event

Outcomes:

• Clearer articulation of the practical priorities businesses face in moving from ambition to implementation
• Shared understanding of the enablers required, including governance, finance, data, standards, collaboration and policy coherence
• Practical messages and examples that can inform Parties, businesses and delivery partners as they implement and review the GBF
• Stronger momentum for an ongoing community of nature actors and champions beyond COP17