Six things to look out for at the 6th Global Conference on Biodiversity Finance

The 6th Global Conference on Biodiversity Finance, scheduled for May 6–8, 2025, in Santiago, Chile, is poised to be a landmark event in the realm of nature finance. Organized by the UNDP’s Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN), the conference will convene delegates from 133 countries to explore innovative solutions for financing biodiversity. Building upon the momentum of COP16  the conference aims to translate policy into actionable financial strategies.

Here are six key themes to watch at this landmark event:

1. Biodiversity Finance Plans: From Policy to Practice

A central focus of the conference is the mainstreaming of Biodiversity Finance Plans (BFPs), which serve as strategic tools to identify and implement financial solutions for biodiversity conservation. Sessions will delve into the journey of BIOFIN countries in developing and executing BFPs, highlighting successes, challenges, and lessons learned. This aligns with the COP16 resource mobilization strategy, which emphasizes the importance of national biodiversity finance plans as enabling actions to meet global biodiversity targets.

2. Scaling Up Resource Mobilization through GEF and GBFF

The conference will address strategies to amplify funding for biodiversity through mechanisms like the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF). Discussions will focus on innovative financing approaches, including blended finance, to attract both public and private investments. This is in response to COP16's commitment to mobilize at least $200 billion annually by 2030 for biodiversity conservation, with specific targets for increasing financial flows to developing countries.

3. Integrating Biodiversity into Financial Systems

Recognizing the critical role of the financial sector in biodiversity conservation, the conference will explore how financial institutions can integrate biodiversity considerations into their operations. Sessions will examine tools and frameworks for assessing biodiversity-related risks and opportunities, aligning financial flows with biodiversity goals, and promoting sustainable investment practices. This theme reflects the growing movement to embed biodiversity into the core of financial decision-making processes.

4. Finance Sector as an Emerging Leader in Biodiversity Finance

Building on the previous theme, the conference will highlight the leadership role of the finance sector in driving biodiversity-positive outcomes. High-level panels will feature insights from financial institutions that have pioneered biodiversity finance initiatives, sharing best practices and strategies for scaling impact. This underscores the sector's potential to influence broader economic systems towards sustainability.

5. Transforming Economic Drivers for Biodiversity

Addressing the root causes of biodiversity loss requires a transformation of economic systems. The conference will tackle the challenge of repurposing harmful subsidies and creating positive incentives for biodiversity conservation. Discussions will focus on policy reforms, fiscal instruments, and market-based mechanisms that can shift economic drivers towards supporting biodiversity goals. This aligns with global efforts to reform subsidies harmful to biodiversity by at least $500 billion per year by 2030.

6. Win-Win-Win: Climate, Nature, and Gender-Positive Finance Solutions

Recognizing the interconnectedness of climate change, biodiversity loss, and gender inequality, the conference will explore integrated finance solutions that deliver co-benefits across these areas. Sessions will showcase initiatives that simultaneously address environmental and social objectives, emphasizing the importance of inclusive and equitable approaches to biodiversity finance. This reflects a holistic understanding of sustainability, encompassing ecological integrity and social justice.

The 6th Global Conference on Biodiversity Finance represents a critical opportunity to advance the global biodiversity agenda through innovative financial solutions. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, the conference aims to catalyze action, foster collaboration, and drive progress towards a sustainable and nature-positive future.

For more information and to explore the full agenda, visit the official conference website: https://globalconference2025.biofin.org/.