Session description
Achieving the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) requires transformative change in how businesses engage with biodiversity and with the Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLCs) who steward a large proportion of it. All business depends upon the resilience of nature, and thus on the Indigenous and local communities which steward that nature and biodiversity. The KMGBF envisages a whole of society approach, including engagement from the private sector to support implementation of the KMGBF in line with its vision and cross-cutting considerations. The IPBES Business and Biodiversity Assessment further highlights the critical needs for credible engagement with IPLCs and the need for businesses to better embed Indigenous and local knowledge, methods and practices in their decisions.

IPLCs are critical stewards of biodiversity, managing and safeguarding ecosystems through deep-rooted knowledge, governance systems, and culturally embedded practices. Their knowledge, innovations, and livelihoods are fundamental to achieving the objectives of the KMGBF. This side event will create a dedicated space for dialogue and exchange, enabling IPLC representatives and organisations to articulate their priorities for engagement with business. It will explore where IPLCs see opportunities for meaningful collaboration, the benefits that can be realised through equitable partnerships, and the challenges that persist.

Business engagement with IPLCs has frequently been characterised by gaps in respecting rights, securing FPIC, and ensuring fair benefits. Increasingly, companies are seeking to improve practices through emerging frameworks such as TNFD and sectoral standards, yet significant challenges remain in embedding consistent, rights-based approaches at scale.

In particular, business engagement with IPLCs is often inconsistent, with ongoing challenges related to getting the basics right, e.g.:

• Respecting rights, governance, and knowledge systems
• Ensuring Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC)
• Incorporating local and traditional knowledge into data collection and Environmental and Social Impact Assessments

There is also an unrealised opportunity to move beyond consultative approaches into co-design and value creation by:

• Using diverse values in decision making
• Delivering equitable benefit-sharing and co-investment
• Moving beyond risk mitigation toward long-term partnerships and shared value creation

Emerging tools, guidance and standards and community-led approaches offer practical pathways for improving outcomes. This event will bring together a dialogue with IPLC representatives, leading business associations and standard-setters to highlight practical guidance and real-world examples on how to scale credible, rights-based approaches and actively deliver benefits to business–IPLC engagement in line with the KMGBF and the findings of the IPBES Business and Biodiversity Assessment.

Objectives:

This session aims to advance understanding and practical action on credible engagement between businesses and IPLCs in support of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework by:

• Identifying persistent challenges and structural barriers
• Showcasing good practices, case studies and emerging solutions, and drawing out key success factors across sectors
• Identifying enabling conditions, including through corporate frameworks and policy, for scaling responsible engagement
• Generating actionable recommendations for action aligned with the KMGBF,  moving beyond principles of do-no harm to participatory value-creation approaches

Expected outcomes:

• Clear key messages for policymakers, standard setters and businesses on responsible IPLC engagement in private sector action
• Identification of priority actions and good practices that can be scaled across sectors, informed by the needs of IPLCs
• Strengthened alignment between business frameworks (TNFD, standards) and rights-based approaches

Potential speakers and supporting organisations:

• UNEP-WCMC - Works at the interface of science, policy and practice to tackle the global crisis facing nature and support the transition to a sustainable future for people and the planet. Confirmed
• Forest Stewardship Council Indigenous Foundation -  Aims to defend the rights of Indigenous Peoples by safeguarding their traditional knowledge, authority and practices to steward the forests of Mother Earth. Serves as the secretariat of the Permanent Indigenous Peoples' Committee (PIPC). Confirmed
• UNESCO – informs and facilitates exchanges between the holders of Indigenous and local knowledge with science policy and environmental policy processes, international norms and standards, and the emergence of transdisciplinary knowledge cooperation; hosts the IPBES ILK Task Force. Confirmed. 
• UEBT (Union for Ethical Biotrade) – promotes sourcing of botanicals with respect for people and biodiversity. Works with a large network of companies. Confirmed.
• ICMM (International Council on Mining and Metals) – represents 1/3 of the global mining and metals industry to uphold responsible mining and sustainable development Confirmed.
• TNFD (Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures) – Disclosure standard setting, with specific guidance on engagement with Indigenous Peoples, Local Communities and affected stakeholders Confirmed.
• Forest Peoples Programme - works directly with communities and peoples, supporting them to secure their rights to traditional lands, territories and resources. TBC
• IIFB - Collection of representatives who organise around the CBD to help coordinate Indigenous strategies. TBC
• Networks representing Indigenous business or entrepreneurs e.g. Canadian Council for Indigenous Businesses TBC