Read our wrap-up for 2023: When nature became even more strategic
As the year comes to a close, we would like to say a huge thank you to all of you who have collaborated with us and supported our work, with the word ‘nature positive’ making it into the mainstream.
Also, in an exciting development, Colombia offered to host the next UN Biodiversity Conference in October 2024. We thank the Colombian government and are delighted to share that this has now been formally confirmed by the CBD.
Some highlights from us:
1. Nature is a strategic issue for business and finance
As the concept of ‘nature positive’ as a global goal continues to grow, we’ve seen several key pieces of work land this year to support businesses in accelerating action. We launched the ‘It’s Now for Nature’ campaign, a joint global campaign to collectively rally all businesses and financial institutions to act on nature. Through a new Nature Strategy Handbook, developed in collaboration with PwC UK, we want to encourage companies to develop and publish a nature strategy and submit it on the It’s Now for Nature website. We will continue to promote the campaign next year and hope you will too, and look forward to sharing a set of strategies at the UN Biodiversity COP16 as the first milestone. Psss: some strategies have been submitted already!
To further support businesses, the Science Based Targets Network released guidance to equip companies to set targets for freshwater and land; Business for Nature, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the World Economic Forum launched guidance for 12 sectors on the actions businesses should take to help halt and reverse nature loss; and the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) shared final recommendations, including a set of general requirements and disclosures. We encourage you to commit to adopting the TNFD recommendations.
2. Moving quickly from agreement to implementation
It’s one year since 196 governments adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and since then we have focused our efforts on supporting governments in the implementation phase, as well as creating government-business dialogues in Malaysia, South Africa, Colombia and Brazil. We have provided guidance for governments on how to integrate the role of business and finance when updating their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), as well as how to effectively implement Target 15 which requires businesses to assess and disclose their risks, dependencies and impacts on biodiversity and Target 18 on Environmentally Harmful Subsidies. We have also worked with our national partners to ensure businesses can effectively engage national governments in these discussions.
3. Interconnected challenges front and center of COP28, including Nature
COP28 in Dubai was the first Climate COP since the GBF adoption and the first time a climate COP Presidency intentionally included an agenda that covers so many of the interconnected challenges we face. There has been a major emphasis on linking the climate crisis with biodiversity and nature loss, but also food systems, regenerative landscapes, health, just transition and tackling inequality. This has been very encouraging, and you can read our summary from COP28.
While there is still much unrest and suffering in the world, we must remember there is no nature-positive, no net zero and no equitable world without a foundation of peace. We wish you a safe and restful break and look forward to working together with you next year ahead of, and at, CBD COP16.
Many thanks and best regards,
Eva Zabey
CEO, Business for Nature