As the significance of transformative change toward a sustainable future becomes clearer, the sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) taking place from the 21st of October to the 1st of November is a crucial moment to advance the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and its 23 ambitious targets. One of the most pressing tasks is redirecting financial flows away from investments and subsidies harmful to biodiversity and towards nature-positive initiatives.
TRANSPATH is actively supporting this shift. Our experts believe that achieving these targets in an equitable way is possible, but it requires financial institutions to operate at an unprecedented scale, moving resources toward nature-positive investments. Key members of the TRANSPATH team—Maria Naranjo-Barantes, Nico Polman, and Sylvia Karlsson-Vinkhuyzen—will be on site during the COP16, focusing on how to repurpose the financial sector to drive this transformation.
TRANSPATH at COP16: Guiding Financial Transformation for Nature-Positive Outcomes
As COP16 provides a global platform for stakeholders to engage, TRANSPATH participants will contribute to shaping discussions around how to repurpose finance. This includes a strong focus on removing harmful subsidies and rechanneling investment flows toward biodiversity-positive outcomes, an essential part of meeting the GBF targets.
Key Events Featuring TRANSPATH Participants
Several COP16 sessions align with TRANSPATH’s mission and will feature our team’s involvement. Here are some highlights:
-
October 22: Financing for Biodiversity on the Road to COP16: Identifying Gaps and Financing Needs
Netherlands Pavilion, 13:00 - 14:15
In this session, Maria Naranjo-Barantes and Nico Polman will contribute to discussions on biodiversity-related risks and opportunities in the financial sector. They will help outline how public-private partnerships can reorient financial flows to meet biodiversity goals. -
October 30: UNEP Business & Nature Hub, 9:00 - 9:45: “Assessing Macroeconomic Effects of Ecosystem Services Loss”
Nico Polman and Sylvia Karlsson-Vinkhuyzen will join discussions on the preliminary findings from a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) assessing biodiversity risks and opportunities for the financial sector. Their focus will be on how financial institutions can integrate biodiversity considerations into their decision-making processes.
Supporting the Shift to a Nature-Positive Economy
In addition to their direct participation, TRANSPATH members will be involved in broader discussions throughout COP16 that support the transformative change needed for a nature-positive economy. These include events at the EU Pavilion, where the focus will be on financial institutions' role in addressing biodiversity loss and promoting sustainable investments.
-
October 23 (15:30 - 17:00): Bridging Global Perspectives on Transformative Change Towards a Nature-Positive Economy
Maria Naranjo-Barantes will attend this session, which explores the global need for transformative economic systems to achieve GBF targets. The session will examine how different regions can collaborate to achieve nature-positive goals. -
October 30 (10:00 - 11:30): Finance for a Just Transition to a Nature-Positive Economy
This session will highlight the importance of finance in achieving a just and sustainable transition. TRANSPATH members will engage with stakeholders to ensure that the needs of both people and nature are addressed equitably.
Final Thoughts
COP16 offers a unique opportunity for TRANSPATH to lead in reshaping financial systems to support biodiversity. By redirecting harmful investments and subsidies towards nature-positive alternatives, our experts will help guide the transformative change needed to ensure that economic activities align with the goals of the Global Biodiversity Framework.