COP16 — 2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference
Oct. 21 – Nov. 1, 2024
Insights
Anthesis experts on biodiversity, climate, and sustainability are excited to be in attendance at the sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16), being held in Cali, Colombia from October 21st to November 1st.
Notably, COP16 will be the first Biodiversity COP since the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework at COP 15 in December 2022, and our experts are eager to discuss the latest advances, solutions, and challenges to framework alignment.
Learn more about the events our experts are participating in below!
Our Experts at COP16
Bloom 24
Oct. 24–25 | Hotel InterContinental Cali, Avenida Colombia #2-72
Trellis (formerly GreenBiz) is convening the annual Bloom conference alongside COP16 this year, and our experts will be on the ground and eager to engage with thought leaders and business practitioners on implementing innovative nature solutions.
Incorporating the Diverse Values of Nature into Business Decision-Making
Oct. 24 | 11:40am–1:00pm | Cocora – Subnational and Local Authorities meeting room – Plaza One
This session focuses on current practices and challenges of embracing diverse value perspectives in impact valuations. Key business leaders will explore the importance of acknowledging and incorporating diverse values of nature, and particularly those of people directly or indirectly affected by business decision-making. The session will be moderated by Anthesis Associate Director for Nature Solutions Bianca Nijhof. Bianca has previously co-authored the Natural Capital Protocol, a foundational framework for the TNFD.
World Biodiversity Summit
Oct. 26 | MUSEO – Museo La Tertulia
The World Biodiversity Summit returns for its 4th edition this year alongside COP16, and our team is eager to engage with this year’s programme on pioneering global public-private partnerships that address the urgent need for biodiversity restoration through nature-based solutions and nature-positive investments, bridging the climate and biodiversity agendas.
Contributing to Nature Positive as a Business – Ensuring Validated Action
Oct. 28 | 11:30am–12:45pm | Netherlands Pavilion
Anthesis Associate Director for Nature Solutions Bianca Nijhof is a guest speaker at this event organized by Partners for Water. The discussion will focus on the Biodiversity Progress Index (BPI), a methodology that leverages AI and citizen science data to inform location-specific business actions and to implement monitoring programs that track the impact of actions across time.
Sustainable Markets Initiative – Business Leaders Forum
Oct. 29 | 2:15–3:30pm | The GREAT Casa Británica
Betsy Hickman, Anthesis Group’s Nature Lead for the Americas, will speak at the Mobilising Regenerative Agriculture in Nature Positivity Roundtable, highlighting how innovative financial mechanisms and incentive strategies can accelerate regenerative agriculture and deliver nature positive outcomes at scale by sharing equally with farmers in the risk and the reward of transition.
Business Sprint: Capacity Building Workshops to Drive Business Action on Nature
Oct. 29 | 8:00am–1:00pm | Hotel InterContinental Cali, Avenida Colombia #2-72
Business for Nature, Capitals Coalition, and WBCSD have developed a series of workshops to help companies build capacity and accelerate high-level actions for nature.
Global Roundtable on the Opportunities of the Integration of Natural Capital in the Food System
Oct. 30 | 10:00–11:15am | Netherlands Pavilion
Anthesis Associate Director for Nature Solutions Bianca Nijhof will speak with Martine van Weelden, Director at Capitals Coalition, during this event aimed at accelerating food system transformation by addressing the value of nature and True Cost Accounting in agricultural practice.
Competitive Sustainability: Integrating Industry and Nature for Economic Resilience and Ecosystem Restoration
Oct. 30 | 4:00–4:45pm | Place Quebec: Business & Finance Hub
As global challenges intensify, the pathway to a sustainable future demands bold action and innovative thinking. In this session, experts from Anthesis, the Port of Barcelona, and NTT Data explore how industries can thrive while becoming stewards of nature, forging a new economic model that sees sustainability not as a cost, but as a competitive advantage.
Key Insights
Why the Biodiversity Crisis is a Business Crisis
The biodiversity crisis isn’t just an environmental concern—it’s a critical business issue, threatening supply chains, resources, and operational stability.
Nature Action is Critical to Protecting US$58 Trillion at Risk
Over half of the world’s GDP, estimated at US$58 trillion, is moderately or highly dependent on the natural world and the vital ecosystem services it provides.
The Business Benefits of Nature Positive Action: A US$10 Trillion Opportunity
Although nearly all business operations have nature dependencies that come with an amount of risk, there is some good news: where there is nature risk, there is equal opportunity to secure natural resources, save costs, engage stakeholders, and manage future risk.
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