Our businesses. Our economies. All of our livelihoods depend on nature. But nature is declining globally at rates unprecedented in human history. 

This December, governments, civil society, businesses and financial institutions will come together to agree on a Global Biodiversity Framework at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity’s COP15. The framework agreed here will represent our once-in-a-decade chance to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. 

GIST Impact’s CEO Pavan Sukhdev will be participating in a number of sessions, workshops and side events at the conference – see below for more details.

We look forward to connecting with other attendees and hope to see you there! 

Speaking Events @ CBD COP15

11 December 2022

Fifth Science-Policy Forum for Biodiversity and the Eighth International Conference on Sustainability Science 

Panel: The role of the scientific community in the implementation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework

10:15 – 11:45 EST, Palais des Congrès de Montréal, Room 210A

In this session, research institutions, universities, and enterprises–the main bodies of scientific and technological innovation–will discuss the best practices for scientific and technological cooperation and innovation to achieve transformation from multiple perspectives including ecological civilization, biodiversity (wetlands/oceans), and food security. The outcome of this session will facilitate decision-making, supervision and evaluation of the actions of governments and enterprises and provide scientific guidance for promoting the mainstreaming of biodiversity and public participation mechanisms, with a view to making outstanding contributions to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

More information here: https://science4biodiversity.org/ 

12 December 2022

TNFD Nature Data Lab – Financial Services session panel

08:30-10:30 EST, Humaniti Hotel Montreal

You can join this session online by signing up here. 

14 December 2022

Food Day Opening Session: Transforming Food Systems to Reverse Biodiversity Loss – Building nexus between Biodiversity-Climate-Land-Food Systems

Closing remarks

9:00 – 10:00 EST, RCP Pavilion

The opening session of FOOD DAY at the Rio Convention pavilion will set the scene on the importance of transferring food systems to reverse biodiversity loss, halt climate change and provide enough healthy and nutritious food for all. High-level speakers will explain why food systems need to be included in the new GBF and indicate ways to integrate food systems in the overall new Global Biodiversity Framework.

Recognizing & Managing the Value of Nature’s Contribution to People through Food Systems Transformation

Panel session – Official CBD side event organized by UNEP-TEEB, Capitals Coalition, MEE, CAS, EU, UNEP-IEMP, Craes.

13.15 – 14.45 EST, Room 516DE

This side event will discuss how making the economic case for pro-nature policies to achieve food systems transformation is aligned with the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. It will do this through the lens of the ongoing European Union funded The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity for Agriculture and Food (TEEBAgriFood) application in China and six other countries (Brazil, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico and Thailand).

More information here.

Other relevant events at CBD COP15

Saturday 10 December 2022 – 16:30-18:00 EST – Role of Valuation for a Nature-positive Economy

Organized by Capitals Coalition
Location: Auditorium, Place Québec, Palais de Congrès

The valuation of nature is critical to achieving a nature positive economy. Businesses are calling for mandatory assessment and disclosure of impacts and dependencies on nature to deliver the post-2020 global biodiversity framework This session will bring together experts from finance, business, NGOs and government to explore the role of valuations in effectively implementing Target 15. Participants will have the opportunity to provide input to the Value Commission as they develop the global criteria for transparent value factors and discuss the path to mainstreaming the inclusion of nature’s value in decision making.

More information here.

Saturday 10 December 2022 – 18.15 – 19.45 EST – Practical Business’ Experiences in Integrating Nature Values in Decision-Making

Official CBD side event organized by Capitals Coalition and Business for Nature, CDP, in collaboration with CDC Biodiversité, CEBDS, CII, CISL, Endangered Wildlife Trust, Finance for Biodiversity Foundation, Forética, ICC United Kingdom, OP2B, OREE, Science Based Targets Network, Textile Exchange, TNFD, UNEP-WCMC, WBCSD, World Economic Forum, WWF.

Location: Level 5, Contact Group 6, Room 516 DE

This session will aim to explore how the business and finance community can work with governments to implement an ambitious Target 15 successfully. We will do this by demonstrating the current use by business and financial institutions of frameworks, tools and metrics to assess and disclose their impacts and dependencies on nature and by outlining what is needed from governments to scale up these practices.

More information here.

Sunday 11 December 2022 – 18.00-19.30 EDT – Celebrating Empowerment Opportunities to Value Nature in Decision-making

Organized by Capitals Coalition

Location: Large Room, Nature Positive Pavilion

A social evening reception hosted by Capitals Coalition to celebrate updated, new and upcoming opportunities for all stakeholders to build their capacity to be empowered to value nature in decision-making and contribute to a nature-positive future.

Visit website.

Monday 12 December 2022 – 14.00-16.30 EST – Measuring Ambition: Valuing Nature into Decision-making (High-level Panel)

Organized by the Capitals Coalition, CDP and Business for Nature.

Location: Business & Biodiversity Forum, Palais des Congrès

This high-level panel will aim to explore how the business and finance community can work with governments to implement an ambitious Target 15 successfully. It will focus on the role of standards and frameworks in supporting business and finance in integrating the values of biodiversity into decision-making.

Visit the website.