COP26* isn’t the only global environmental event happening in 2021!
As a ‘sister’ conference to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) COP15, also known as the ‘biodiversity COP”, is being held from 11 to 24 October 2021, in Kunming, Yunnan Province, China. It exists to ensure: the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of the components of biological diversity and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilisation of genetic resources.
This COP is the most important UN Biodiversity Conference in this decade as countries are expected to agree on a Post-2020 Global Framework for Biodiversity and new targets for protecting biodiversity. Business is also expected to play a new and expanded role in implementing key outcomes from the negotiations.
On the domestic front we also have Australia's Strategy for Nature 2019-2030, the overarching framework by which Australia enacts its obligations under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, and the national policy umbrella for all biodiversity related efforts in Australia.
What can be done to inspire and ensure action on the ground in Australia? Hosted by the Australian Business and Biodiversity Initiative+, Australia’s business partner to the CBD, this unique Virtual Summit spread across 3 days with international and Australian speakers will look at the role and actions that the Australian community can take to ensure we reach a meaningful agreement.
“This will be a milestone event prepared to strengthen the engagement with the private sector and to call for ambitious commitments and concrete action to support the upcoming Global Biodiversity Framework to be adopted at COP15” said Fiona Sutton Wilson, CEO, Earthwatch Institute Australia.
“Crucially it will explore what government, business and community commitments should be made and how can they be achieved, and what tools and resources are available to reach those possible outcomes” said Andrew Petersen, CEO, Business Council for Sustainable Development Australia.
“We hope this Summit will be also be a time for ambitious commitments and concrete action from private sector that can help reverse biodiversity loss and build a healthier and more sustainable future for all” said Trust for Nature’s CEO, Victoria Marles.
Details of the Summit Program & Current Speaker list as well as supporting Organizations are listed below. Registration to this Free. Register at Eventbrite via this link. Summit Overview
23 June I 08:30am - 09:30 I COP15 The Big Picture I CBD COP 15 will review the achievement and delivery of the CBD’s Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020. It is also anticipated that the final decision on the post-2020 global biodiversity framework will be taken, together with decisions on related topics including capacity building and resource mobilization.
24 June I 09:00 - 10:30 & 11:00 - 12:30 I Mainstreaming Biodiversity I There is a clear call that to make businesses part of the solution, it is essential for the corporate decision-makers to gain comprehensive insights into both the impacts and the dependencies of their products and the processes on natural capital throughout their value chain. Hear from Speakers from Food & Agriculture, Consumer, Chemicals, Property & Construction, Resources, Finance and Forestry.
25 June I 09:00 - 10:30 & 11:00 - 12:30 I Post 2020 Framework building blocks I The post pandemic recovery offers an opportunity for communities to integrate biodiversity into policies to strengthen resilience and human development. The current zero draft of the post 2020 framework applies a “theory of change” approach, which requires transformative actions to put in place tools and solutions for implementation, mainstreaming of biodiversity into productive sectors and, eventually, conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. What actions could Australians commit to and propose to create the enabling conditions and adequate means of implementation, including financial resources, capacity, and technology. You will hear Speakers from: Accounting, Framework Development, Research & Technology, Community, Government, Indigenous & Youth
Speakers confirmed • Rosemary Bissett, National Australia Bank • Mark Gough, Capitals Coalition • Radha Kuppalli, New Forests • Anissa Lawrence, Tierra Mar • Sussan Ley, Minister for the Environment, Australian Parliament (prepared speech) • Victoria Marles, Trust for Nature • Anika Molesworth, Farmers for Climate Action • Rachel Morgain, Threatened Species Recovery Hub, National Environmental Science Program • Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity will open the Summit at 8:30am 23 June 2021. • Blaise Porter, Fujitsu • Judith Preston, Centre for Environmental Law, Macquarie University • Reece Proudfoot, WWF Australia • Matthew Warnken, Agriprove • Eva Zabey, Business for Nature
More speakers to follow. Once registered to a Session you will receive a link to the Zoom Webinar Registration page to get the unique link to the Event.
*United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 26th Conference of the Parties, Glasgow, 1 – 12 November 2021
+About ABBI Established in 2011, the Australian Business and Biodiversity Initiative (ABBI) aims to raise awareness of biodiversity loss and degradation and to support the development of practical solutions that integrate consideration of biodiversity and ecosystem services into business decision-making. ABBI is a National Initiative under the UNCBD Global Partnership on Business and Biodiversity Initiative. Read more
Supporting Organizations • Business Council for Sustainable Development Australia: www.bcsda.org.au • Business for Nature: www.businessfornature.org • Capitals Coalition: www.capitalscoalition.org • Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: www.agriculture.gov.au • EarthWatch Institute Australia: www.earthwatch.gov.au • Tierra Mar Consultancy: www.tierramar.com.au • Trust for Nature: trustfornature.org.au • World Business Council for Sustainable Development: www.wbcsd.org.au
For further information contact: Andrew Petersen, CEO, Business Council for Sustainable Development Australia, +61 412 545 994