The upcoming COP-15 will be a watershed event, due to the adoption of a post-2020 global biodiversity framework and will bring together policy state and non-state actors representatives to discuss and propose a new pathway for curbing the loss of biodiversity through collective action.
In light of the evolving pandemic, COP15 will take place in a two-phase approach, with all official parallel events taking place in 2022 to ensure meaningful and safe discussions and the participation of different segments of society in this once in a generation opportunity to chart a new path to biodiversity and the planet.
The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity through the Global Partnership for Business and Biodiversity (GPBB), and supported by partners, has outlined a series of virtual events with the goal to engage businesses in biodiversity conversations and raise ambitions around the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. Touching on some of the most critical issues for the business community and the urgent need to revert the loss of biodiversity, these sessions will provide a space for corporate engagement, knowledge sharing, and identifying solutions to shared problems in the months leading up to COP15.
Funded by the European Union
18 October 2021, 7am - 8.30am EDT
The post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and the role of Business
The post 2020 Global Biodiversity marks a critical juncture for one of the biggest global challenges of our time: the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services. Transformative changes are urgently needed to meet global goals while ensuring that biodiversity is conserved, restored and used sustainably. Such a transformation will require a system-wide reorganization and will have a profound impact in our relationship with the planet and how we do business.
The economic sectors will have a pivotal role to play in meeting the new goals and targets and its implementation. There are many exciting examples of how different actors and sectors are coming together through building coalitions, strengthening multi-stakeholder partnerships and redesigning the overall dynamics of Business as Usual.
During the session we will hear from business and finance sector representatives who are looking into the future and identifying opportunities to integrate biodiversity in the decision-making process across operations, products and portfolios.
Speakers
- Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity
- Francis Ogwal, Co-Chair of the Open-Ended Working Group for the Post 2020
- Basile Van Havre, Co-Chair of the Open-Ended Working Group for the Post 2020
- Simon Zadek, Chair, Finance for Biodiversity Initiative (F4B)
- Claude Fromageot, Chair of the Global Partnership for Business and Biodiversity
- Magali Anderson, Chief Sustainability and Innovation, Holcim
- Thomas Lingard, Global Climate and Environment Director, Unilever
- Moderator: Katia Karousakis, Head of Biodiversity, Land Use and Ecosystems (BLUE) programme, OECD
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19 October 2021, 7am - 8.30am EDT
Mainstreaming biodiversity across sectors: what does it really mean?
Biodiversity and ecosystem services are fundamental to human health. It underpins a vast range of ecosystem services as sources of food, medicines, shelter, energy, livelihoods and economic development and contributes to the regulation of multiple ecosystem functions and processes critical to nutrition and food security, clean air, the quantity and quality of fresh water, spiritual and cultural values, climate regulation, pest and disease regulation, and disaster risk reduction.
Mainstreaming Biodiversity, ecosystem, and nature-based solutions into policies and programmes at all levels is critical. Mainstreaming opportunities need to be tailored to specific needs and circumstances of each sector but, often, win-win solutions are available. This nonetheless requires improved coordination and policy coherence across various sectors, interest groups and other stakeholders. Looking back to the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and their trajectory, it has become clear that collaboration among across governments and non-state actors – in a whole of society approach - will be key to deliver the upcoming Post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.
Mainstreaming biodiversity is critical to help reduce the negative impacts that productive sectors, development investments, and other human activities exert on biodiversity by highlighting the contribution of biodiversity to socioeconomic development, human well-being and the planet. There are currently encouraging examples of successful collaboration among different sectors and actors that can support the implementation of the Post 2020 but scaling up these results will be central to the successful implementation.
The cooperation of business, finance and governments has never been so urgent or timely. There is growing momentum among the business community reflected in recent high-level discussions such as the UN Food Systems Summit, SDGs High Level Political Forum, IUCN World Conservation Congress, Davos, to name a few.
In the coming months, policy makers will intensify discussions in view of the COPs on climate and biodiversity, including the adoption, by all CBD governments and by UN agencies, of a new 10-year deal for nature and people and a long-term approach to mainstreaming: time for action is now, in preparation for the closing of COP 15 in May 2022, and this event will share information and opportunities for coordination of efforts.
Speakers
- Theresa Mundita Lim, Executive Director, ASEAN Center for Biodiversity
- Michael Torrance, Chair of the Cross-Sector Biodiveristy Initiative CSBi
- Matthew Reddy, Senior Private Sector Specialist, Global Environmental Facility GEF
- Takao Aiba, Chairman of Subcomittee on Planning, Keidanren's Committee on Nature Conservation
- Moderator: Braulio Dias, Chairman, Birdlife International and former Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity
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20 October 2021, 7am - 8.30am EDT
The future of food: the good, the bad and the promising
Our food systems are intricately connected to human and animal health, climate, and biodiversity, at the same time biodiversity is essential to food security and nutrition globally. Yet, unsustainable agricultural practices have led to dramatic biodiversity loss and are one of the main drivers of climate change with in between 20 and almost 40 per cent of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions attributable to the food system. Furthermore, biodiversity has been slowly disappearing from our diets and everywhere in the world, people are not consuming enough nutrient-rich foods missing the full range of nutrients essential to human health.
Increasing the productivity and sustainability of agriculture can reduce pressure on forests and other biodiverse ecosystems and, with the appropriate policy measures in place, allow space for increased conservation and restoration activities. It can also improve the resilience of agricultural systems, locally and globally, and contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation. Food-based approaches that address malnutrition, especially micronutrient deficiencies, are also needed; however, they are disconnected from current agricultural production systems.
This session will explore different strategies and innovative approaches that can support the transition of the food system to more sustainable models, reduced food waste, and increased access to fresh foods in urban environments and nutrition, including positive impacts on biodiversity and soil heath.
Speakers
- Anna-Karin Modin-Edman, Senior Sustainability Manager, Arla Foods
- Sudhanshu Sarronwala, Chief Impact Officer, Infarm
- Gabriela Burian, Head Global Partnerships and Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships, Bayer
- Olivera Medugorac, European Affairs Manager, Nestle
- Sagrario Saez Mejia, Sustainability Diretor, Heineken Spain
- Moderator: Martina Fleckenstein, Global Policy Manager Food, WWF International
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21 October 2021, 7am - 8.30am EDT
Powering our Future: Lessons from the Energy Sector on Addressing Climate and Biodiversity
Energy production relies heavily on biodiversity and ecosystem services – from oil and gas extraction to hydro, wind and solar power, biodiversity loss poses a critical risk to the sector as a whole. Energy production and use is the single biggest contributor to global warming, accounting for roughly two-thirds of human-induced greenhouse gas emissions.
A sustainable future for people and the planet requires transformative change with rapid and far-reaching actions, building on ambitious emissions reductions and immediate action to revert biodiversity loss. Solving some of the strong and apparently unavoidable trade-offs between climate and biodiversity will require ambition, ingenuity and concrete action commensurate with the intertwined crises we are facing.
The energy sector has made significant progress in identifying innovative and effective ways of managing biodiversity alongside their decarbonization targets. This session will highlight some concrete examples from the energy sector where businesses have implemented innovative approaches to address both the climate and biodiversity loss as part of the same complex problem.
Speakers
- Emilio Tejedor, Head of Enviroment Innovation, Sustainability and Quality, Iberdrola
- Steven Dickinson, Vice-Chair Biodiversity Group, IPIECA
- Ivan Vera, Senior Expert Adviser, UNDESA
- Moderator: Sharon Brooks, Deputy Head of Business and Biodiversity Program, UNEP/WCMC
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22 October 2021, 7am - 8.30am EDT
Sustainable Use: the business plan for the planet
Natural resources are essential to development and prosperity and the foundation to human wellbeing. It is estimated that half of the world’s GDP is moderately or highly dependent on nature and its services and, as a result, exposed to risks from nature loss . The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) indicated that despite progress to conserve nature and implement policies, the global goals for conserving and sustainably using nature cannot be met by current trajectories. Global goals for 2030 and beyond may only be achieved through transformative changes across economic, social, political and technological factors.
Biodiversity is an important cross-cutting issue in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The SDGs explicitly recognize the importance of halting biodiversity loss, and other Goals recognize the importance of biological diversity for eradicating poverty, providing food and fresh water, and improving life in cities. It is critical that we make progress in mainstreaming biodiversity and transforming how societies value and manage it.
Economic activities depend on biodiversity for resources such as water, food, fiber, minerals and metals and so much more. Despite numerous commitments, biodiversity loss continues to accelerate across the globe. In addition, the anticipated expansion of sectors that depend on and affect biodiversity — including agriculture, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture — will pose a significant challenge to halting biodiversity loss in the coming decades. Reversing these trends will require action by all sectors and stakeholders, policy makers, financial institutions, civil society, academia and business. Mainstreaming biodiversity will ensure that addressing development needs and protecting the environment are mutually supportive.
The session will bring representatives from companies from different sizes and sectors and highlight the role of responsible use of natural resources in supporting sustainable development. Natural resources are the basis for a prosperous society, and the responsible and legal use of those resources will ensure sustainable growth while supporting life on Earth.
Speakers
- Sebastien Duprat de Paule, Natural Ingredients Innovation & Development Director, Yves Rocher
- Lana Sutherland, CEO, Tealeaves
- Leticia Kawanami, global Sustainability Manager, Suzano
- Keyvan Macedo, Sustainability Director, Natura & Co
- Tara Mathew, Head of Sustainable Supply Chain Operations and Direct Farmer Sourcing, Jayanti Herbs & Spice
- Alexandre Capelli, Group Environment Deputy Director, LVMH
- Moderator: Julia Maria Oliva, Deputy Director, Union for Ethical Biotrade UEBT
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