COP16 shows why companies and countries have biodiversity on the agenda

Nov 15, 2024

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In this episode of the ESG Insider podcast, we’re covering key takeaways from COP16, the UN’s major biodiversity conference that just wrapped up in Cali, Colombia.

The conference convened countries from around the world, and we hear about key outcomes of government negotiations in an interview with Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.

We also hear about the large private sector presence at COP16, which reflects companies’ growing understanding of the links between nature loss and climate change. We also hear about rising private sector recognition of the importance of including Indigenous peoples and local communities in decisions about nature.

To learn more, we discuss the outlook for nature disclosure and standards with Andrea Pradilla, who is Latin America Director of the sustainability standards organization Global Reporting Initiative, or GRI.

We learn about the landscape for financing for nature — including through biodiversity credits — in a conversation with Sébastien Soleille, Global Head of Energy Transition and Environment at big French bank BNP Paribas.

To understand the data challenges companies face when measuring and managing their nature risks and dependencies, we talk to Divya Mankikar, Global Head of Strategy for the Corporate Ecosystem at S&P Global Sustainable1.

And we look ahead to another big UN gathering taking place in Latin America — the climate-focused COP30 that Brazil will host in 2025. We talk to Eron Bloomgarden, Founder and CEO of Emergent, a nonprofit involved in a recently announced $180 million deal the Brazilian state of Pará signed to support its efforts to combat deforestation.

Read research from S&P Global Sustainable1, Corporate nature commitments remain rare, here: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/insights/featured/special-editorial/ahead-of-cop16-corporate-nature-commitments-remain-rare

Listen to our previous podcast episode, ISSB Vice Chair Sue Lloyd talks aligning sustainability standards across jurisdictions, here: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/issb-vice-chair-sue-lloyd-talks-aligning-sustainability-standards-across-jurisdictions

Listen to our previous podcast episode, CDP CEO talks climate, nature and the future of sustainability disclosure, here: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/cdp-ceo-talks-climate-nature-and-the-future-of-sustainability-disclosure

This piece was published by S&P Global Sustainable1, a part of S&P Global.

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