Sustainable Finance & Biodiversity: State of Play, Challenges and Solutions 

In recent years, it has become increasingly clear that the loss of biodiversity represents one of the greatest threats to the world economy and ultimately to the survival of humanity. According to scientific findings, approximately 25% of all species are threatened with extinction, and biodiversity is declining faster today than at any other time in human history. While more than 50% of the global GDP depends on the services provided by nature, the main causes of biodiversity loss are directly linked to human economic activities: changes in land and sea use, direct exploitation of organisms, climate change, pollution, and the invasion of non-native species.

To combat this alarming trend, all economic actors must contribute. Companies need to better understand their interaction with nature; financial institutions can contribute by financing concrete solutions and must understand and measure the impacts they finance; governments can set the framework and guide economic actors towards transparency and due diligence. In recent years, various initiatives have been launched (UN, central banks, European Commission, and the private sector) aimed at better understanding the interactions between the economy and nature’s services, measuring the impacts, and finding concrete solutions for better protection of biodiversity at local, regional, and global levels to achieve this goal.

When? Tuesday, January 31 & February 1, 2024

Where? Stresemannstr. 128-130, 10117 Berlin

What/Who?

Day 1

Welcome:

• Silke Stremlau, Chair of the SFB

Keynote:

• Thomas Graner, German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN)
• Simon Zadek, NatureFinance

Session 1: Real Economy & Biodiversity: Current Status, Best Practices, and Remaining Key Challenges**

Moderation / Impulse:

• Katarin Wagner, econsense e.V.

Introduction / Panel:

• Prof. Dr. Alexander Bassen, University of Hamburg, WPSF, EFRAG, Permanent Observer of the SFB
• Katarin Wagner, econsense e.V.
• Michael Ofosuhene-Wise, Business For Nature (digital)
• Prof. Dr. Katrin Böhning-Gaese, Senckenberg Society for Nature Research, RNE
• Miriam Van Gohl, Science Based Targets Network
• Philipp Wagnitz, Lidl Foundation

Session 2: Financial Institutions & Biodiversity – Challenges & Solutions**

Moderation / Impulse:

• Verena Menne, Forum Sustainable Investments (FNG), Permanent Observer of the SFB

Introduction / Panel:

• Nathalie Borgeaud, Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD)
• Mathilde Dufour, Mirova
• Jürgen Kern, KFW, Permanent Observer of the SFB
• Dr. Paolo Krischak, Deutsche Bundesbank, NGFS, Permanent Observer of the SFB

Summary of Day 1: Dr. Julia Haake, EthiFinance, Member of the SFB

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Day 2

Welcome:

• Silke Stremlau, Chair of the SFB

Fireside Chat:

• Pavan Sukhdev, GIST Impact
• Christian Heller, Value Balancing Alliance (VBA), Co-Chair of the SFB

Keynote:

• Steffi Lemke, Minister of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV)

Session 3: Biodiversity & Data: Applications, Challenges & Solutions

Moderation / Impulse:

• Dr. Julia Haake, EthiFinance & Member of SFB

Introduction / Panel:

• Susanne Schmitt, Nature+Futures
• Chiara Colesanti Senni, University of Zurich
• Sven Kaumanns, Federal Statistical Office
• Matthieu Maurin, Iceberg Data Lab
• Asa Mossberg, Andra AP-fonden (AP2)

Session 4: Regulation: How Can Regulators Help Steer Us Toward a Nature-Positive Economy?

Moderation / Impulse:

• Ingmar Jürgens, Climate & Company, WPSF, Permanent Observer of the SFB

Introduction / Panel:

• Elisa Famery, DG Trésor, France
• Sven Gentner, DG FISMA, European Commission
• Dr. Esther Wandel, German Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF)

Conference Summary & Outlook: Ingmar Jürgens, Climate & Company, WPSF, Permanent Observer of the SFB

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Presentation: Sustainable Finance and Biodiversity Regulation on a global, European, and national level