BIOFIN - Biodiversity Finance Initiative

We are pleased to share our bi-annual newsletter, which highlights key results and activities from the second half of 2024. This period was marked by dynamic events, the release of new publications, and significant progress in biodiversity finance solutions - from issuing green bonds to halting harmful subsidies and increasing environmental budgets. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed about our latest initiatives and achievements. ?? Enjoy reading:?https://lnkd.in/gcyUdxVR

?? Call for Applications: P4G ?? P4G is accepting applications for partnerships working on climate mitigation or adaptation solutions in the areas of food, energy and water!! ???About P4G Partnerships: Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) was commenced in 2018 to benefit people and the planet by mobilizing finance to accelerate early-stage enterprises working on net zero country transitions in food, water and energy systems. ???Eligibility Criteria: - Applicant partnerships must comprise at least one early-stage climate business and one nonprofit administrative partner. - The partnerships must Implement their work in P4G’s ODA-eligible partner countries and focus sub-sectors including climate smart agriculture, food loss and waste, water resilience, zero emissions mobility and renewable energy. - Applicants must be at the seed or post-seed financing stage with a robust business plan and a defined path to commercialization or raise capital. ?? How to Apply: Use the following link to apply: https://lnkd.in/e-aHpbdr ??The deadline for applications is 7 March 2025. ?? Find this opportunity and more on our website: https://fire.biofin.org/ #food #water #energy #biodiversity #grants #partnerships #opportunityalert

Wow! What a week for me ! Over the past days at the resumed UN Biodiversity CBD #COP16 , I had the chance to meet with representatives from nearly 30 countries, diving into their needs, challenges, progress, and successes in closing their biodiversity finance gaps. Seeing countries come together, find common ground, and make commitments is still possible! As a recap, here are the key highlights of the week: ??Countries made significant efforts to reach consensus on a Resource Mobilization strategy, aiming to raise $200 billion per year by 2030, with $20 billion in international flows by 2025, increasing to $30 billion by 2030. ??Commitments to establish permanent financial mechanisms and improve existing instruments, with a roadmap through 2030 to guide their evolution. The agreement marks the first global plan to finance the conservation of life on Earth, helping to close the biodiversity finance gap. ??Multilateral cooperation was evident in negotiations, showcasing the ability to reach consensus despite geopolitical challenges. Some issues (new fund, subsidies) will be revisited at COP17, but progress was made. ??the Cali Fund was launched, with UNDP and UNEP as key partners. The fund is hosted by the MPTFO, with the CBD Secretariat's support. Very happy to have been part of the UNDP delegation for this important event. Onno van den Heuvel Christina Supples Gabreski (thanks for the picture ?? ) Alexis Legigand Terence Hay-Edie #COP16Resumed, #COP16.2 BIOFIN - Biodiversity Finance Initiative

Rome hosts the #COP16Resumed sessions from 25-27 February 2025 at FAO Headquarters. Together, nations will tackle critical issues like resource mobilization and #KMGBF monitoring, moving closer to #PeaceWithNature. #COP16Colombia ?? https://lnkd.in/dAtxN-aE

?? Major breakthrough at COP 16.2 in Rome: Countries agree on strategy to raise the funds needed to protect biodiversity? ?? Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) worked into the early morning hours of Friday 28th February to hammer out agreements on biodiversity finance, planning, monitoring, reporting and review, and the full set of indicators to measure global and national progress towards implementing the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), agreed in Montreal at COP 15 in 2022. ?? Historic Adoption of the Resource Mobilisation Strategy A crucial step in closing the $700 billion annual biodiversity funding gap by 2030, this strategy sets a clear path for aligning financial flows with nature-positive goals. We’re proud to have contributed to this milestone, advocating for policy measures that enhance private biodiversity finance – including nature-related disclosures, central bank actions, economic incentive reforms and the promotion of blended finance. ?? Ensuring Accountability with the Monitoring Framework Governments also agreed on the indicators within the Monitoring Framework, a critical tool for ensuring accountability in implementing the GBF.?This includes nature-related disclosures (Target 15) and the use of economic incentives to reduce harmful activity and scale up positive impacts on biodiversity (Target 18). ?? Launch of the Cali Fund: A Game-Changer for Benefit-Sharing The Cali Fund will channel profits from industries using Digital Sequence Information (DSI) into biodiversity protection – ensuring fair and equitable benefits for Indigenous communities and developing countries. Now, the real work begins. ?? Let’s work together to align finance with nature and build a sustainable future! Read our full statement on the outcome of COP 16.2 here: https://lnkd.in/eNmEgG3A #FinanceForBiodiversity #COP16 #BiodiversityFinance #NaturePositive #SustainableFinance

Are you a young changemaker with an innovative idea to tackle climate change? UNDP Rome Centre and the Government of Italy are offering up to $30,000 in funding, mentorship, and a global platform to help you scale your project. If you're 18-29 years old and working on a climate initiative, this is your chance to turn your idea into real impact! Since the first Call for Solutions in 2023, the #Youth4Climate initiative has mobilized over 3,000 proposals from young innovators across 120+ countries and awarded 100 youth-led initiatives in 52 countries, with a total funding envelope of $2.5 million. In 2025, the Youth4Climate Call for Solutions is back with new funding opportunities and fresh thematic priorities: ?? Sustainable Energy – Advancing a sustainable and just energy transition ?? Food & Agriculture – Building resilient, equitable, and sustainable food systems ?? Climate & Health – Addressing health challenges linked to climate change ?? Digital for Planet – Leveraging digital solutions for climate action and biodiversity ?? Climate, Peace & Security – Promoting peace-positive climate adaptation and mitigation ?? Nature for Climate Action – Conserving and restoring natural ecosystems ?? Apply by 26 May 2025 ?? https://shorturl.at/j6NVh ?? Looking for more funding opportunities for nature? Follow the Finance Resources for Biodiversity (FIRE) page to access 300+ financial opportunities supporting biodiversity and climate action: https://lnkd.in/g84XEDu7 Ministero dell'Ambiente e della Sicurezza Energetica UNDP Climate UNDP Sustainable Energy Hub UNDP Nature

?????????????????????????? ???????????? ???? ??????????????: ???????????????? ???????????????? ???? ??????????????’?? ?????????????????? ???????????? It’s been yet another exciting week, this time in Walvis Bay, Namibia, engaging with Namibia's financial sector on how to mainstream nature in their operations. While the rationale for why finance should be part of the biodiversity movement may seem obvious to some, experience has shown that this is not always the case. There’s still a long way to go in bridging the knowledge gap on how financial institutions depend on nature for their survival, how their lending decisions impact ecosystems, and the increasing relevance of climate- and nature-related financial risks. We explored these critical issues while also highlighting the immense opportunities—reforming underwriting processes, strengthening risk frameworks, and introducing innovative green financial products and services. A huge thank you to our new BIOFIN Namibia team, led by Bernadette Shalumbu, supported by Kuna-Ndjambi Meroro Mupurua and Frida Frans for assembling the right participants in the room. Having financial regulators, pension funds, environmental funds, made for an insightful and localized discussion. See list of some of the participating Institutions further below It was also a pleasure to introduce participants to global frameworks such as TNFD and IFRS S1 & S2, highlighting how organizations worldwide are preparing for implementation. As BIOFIN - Biodiversity Finance Initiative , we remain committed to supporting Namibia’s financial sector in integrating nature into their operations. Many thanks to my virtual co-pilots for this training Eva Bortolotti and Ronja Fischer A collective renaissance in sustainable finance is taking shape—exciting times ahead! Onno van den Heuvel Marco Arlaud Meruyert Sadvakassova Mahtab Haider Mariana Bellot Christian Shingiro Participants: NAMFISA Agricultural Bank of Namibia Bank Windhoek UNDP in Namibia Nedbank Namibia GIPF - Government Institutions Pension Fund Triple Capital Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia Development Bank of Namibia Bank of Namibia

???? The UK joins 45 other parties who have submitted their National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (NBSAPs), and it highlights multiple nature-positive strategies ?? This week the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (UN Biodiversity) meets to conclude the negotiations started at COP16 in Cali, Colombia. It is an opportune moment to look at how far there is still to go to secure a nature-positive world by 2030. Nature Positive is a global goal commensurate with the mission laid out in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework - to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030. But to hit targets and support a livable planet for all, we need more than commitments. Some of the highlights: ?? Support for a net zero, climate resilient and nature positive economy ?? Aligning financial flows with Nature Positive Economy programme, delivered in partnership with the UNDP’s Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN - Biodiversity Finance Initiative) and Financial Sector Deepening Africa (FSD) ?? Recognizing the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and encouraging greater integration between the TNFD and the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB)’s emerging global baseline on sustainability reporting ?? Scotland's specific biodiversity strategy to embed nature positive farming, fishing and forestry and reach the Nature Positive by 2030 goal Read the NBSAP here: https://lnkd.in/ex7KgVEq Find out how the Nature Positive Initiative, with its 27 core partners, is working to build consensus to measure and drive nature-positive outcomes: https://lnkd.in/etP8UmPX #NaturePositive

India's agricultural policies, including subsidies and incentives, have long been pillars of food security and economic stability. However, some of these measures have unintentionally impacted biodiversity. Recognizing this, UNDP in India is collaborating with the Government of India to realign these policies, ensuring they support both agricultural productivity and ecological balance. Since 2020, UNDP's Biodiversity Finance Initiative in #India has commissioned two studies that identified key strategies to make agricultural subsidies more biodiversity-positive. ?? Learn more:?https://lnkd.in/gRtQ4a8q Ruchi Pant Abbie Trinidad

??Underway! The UNDP Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) Namibia has officially kicked off with its first Training Workshop from 26-28 February 2025 in Walvis Bay, Erongo Region! Under the theme "Mainstreaming Green Finance: Capacity Building for Biodiversity Integration in Namibia’s Private & Financial Sector," this workshop marks a big step forward in Namibia’s journey towards green finance. We are equipping stakeholders with the tools to integrate biodiversity into financial systems. As well as, fostering green finance to address biodiversity loss, mitigate nature-related financial risks, and unlock sustainable opportunities. #BiodiversityFinance #GreenFinance #Namibia #SustainableFuture #BIOFIN? Kuna-Ndjambi Meroro Mupurua Frida Frans Bernadette Shalumbu Alka BhatiaBIOFIN - Biodiversity Finance Initiative Bruno Mweemba BIOFIN - Biodiversity Finance Initiative Meruyert Sadvakassova Onno van den Heuvel Mahtab Haider