September news update: Join us in the final push to secure a transformative global agreement on nature

This is the final sprint to adopt a new global agreement on nature at the UN Biodiversity Conference COP15 taking place 7-19 December in Montreal, Canada.

The last round of negotiations took place in Nairobi, Kenya and saw 196 countries gather to discuss the latest text of the Global Biodiversity Framework. There were a few notable highlights – specifically on the greater recognition on the role of business and significant momentum in favor of mandatory requirements for businesses and financial institutions to assess and disclose their impacts and dependencies on nature. Overall, though, much of the text was left in brackets, meaning it is still yet to be agreed.

In these next few months, we need strong leadership and engagement at the highest political levels led by the Chinese Presidency and Canada as the host country ahead of, and during COP15, to deliver a result that truly recognizes and appreciates our relationship with nature.

As part of our contribution to making this happen, we’re pleased to share our COP15 Advocacy Campaign #MakeItMandatory for business and finance to unite behind.

All companies are invited to sign the COP15 business statement before 18 October. By doing so, you’ll join companies and financial institutions from across the globe who are calling on Heads of State to adopt mandatory requirements for businesses to assess and disclose their impacts and dependencies on nature by 2030. The statement is available in 中文, Bahasa Indonesia, Français and Español. This statement will form part of the full-scale digital, media and advocacy campaign that will officially launch on 27 October. This is when signatories to the statement will be announced.

If you’re not a company, you can still support the campaign by sharing the statement with your business networks and on social media. Feel free to use these translated assets including a high-impact animation and social media posts/cards.

COP15 business webinar

On 6 September, we hosted a webinar to drive business momentum. More than 2,000 people registered and nearly half this number joined live. We were thrilled Elizabeth Mrema, Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity and Manuel Pulgar Vidal, Action Agenda Champion, joined businesses including Unilever, Holcim and DHI to explain why it’s so important to engage in the COP15 process. We shared a broad update for companies covering:

• Why COP15 is critical for business and the status of the negotiations

  • Read our UPDATED COP15 Business Guide.

• The COP15 Business Advocacy Campaign, #MakeItMandatory

  • Please sign up to the COP15 business statement. The deadline is 18 October.

• The latest plan to ensure a strong and effective business and finance presence and participation at COP15 in Montreal

  • There will be a dedicated business and finance hub (9-10 Dec), a Business Forum (12-13 Dec) and a Finance Day (14 Dec), plus two ‘action days’ (15-16 Dec). Find out more in the COP15 Business Guide.

  • Register your interest to attend COP15 by completing this registration form by 10 October.

“COP15 is our best chance to urgently put us on the path to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030. We must see businesses able to assess and disclose their impact on biodiversity.”

— Elizabeth Mrema, Executive Secretary of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity

Translated High-Level Business Actions on nature

Following the launch of the High-Level Business Actions on Nature, we’re pleased to share you can now access the content in 中文, Bahasa Indonesia, Français, Español, and Português. We’d encourage you to use this digital toolkit to share the content with your business networks.

News from our partners

• Join the Science Based Targets Network on 20 September to get an overview of the soon-to-be-released draft technical guidance helping companies assess and prioritize their environmental impacts to then set science-based targets for nature. SBTN's draft technical guidance is now available for public comment until 14 October.

• The We Mean Business Coalition published its 2021 Annual Report which shows the number of businesses committed to climate leadership and taking meaningful action to cut their emissions has grown significantly.

• Business Fights Poverty hosts a virtual Global Goals Summit 19-21 September focusing on the latest trends in poverty, the role business can play and practical examples of businesses. Reserve your place.

• IPBES is looking for practitioners with expertise in impacts & dependencies of business on biodiversity and nature’s contributions to people from all relevant business and financial sectors. Deadline: 15 November.

• Climate Catalyst is hosting a webinar on the role business plays in restoring peatlands on 12 October at 2pm CEST. Register to attend.

Media & event highlights

• The Leaders Pledge for Nature is hosting the ‘Countdown to CBD COP15: Landmark Leaders Event for a Nature Positive World’ high-level livestreamed event on 20 September at 6:30 pm EDT. Tune in here.

• GreenBiz will host an inaugural VERGE Nature Forum on 24 October in San Jose, US, gathering business and government leaders at the forefront of creating a nature-positive economy. Request an invitation.

• Why Chinese companies should accelerate action for biodiversity conservation (World Economic Forum)

• Jungle in heart of Malaysia's capital hunts corporate cash to thrive (Reuters)

• A strong Global Biodiversity Framework and the right policies can build a nature-positive economy (Business Green)

• Is Sustainable Investing Sustainable? (Project Syndicate)

• Final part of UN’s summit to create international biodiversity goals moved to Canada, in bid to end delays (Edie)

• For security and survival, business must go all-in on nature (Valor Economico)