The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework was adopted by 196 Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity at COP15 in December 2022. It is a major milestone in the international effort to halt and reverse the loss of biodiversity and contribute to nature-based solutions, beginning a new era for nature in the way the 2015 Paris Conference did for climate.

The Framework calls on actors across society and our economies – including financial institutions (FIs) in the public and private sectors – to work together to transform our relationship with nature. Notably, all financial institutions should be aware of:

  • Goal A: the overarching goal to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.
  • Goal D: a clear ambition to align financial flows with the expressed vision of “living in harmony with Nature” by 2050.
  • Target 15: calls for the assessment and disclosure of nature-related risks, impacts and dependencies by large companies, including financial institutions.
  • Target 19: calls for a substantial increase in public and private financial resources – by at least USD 200 billion annually – towards addressing the nature-related funding gap.

Efforts in most jurisdictions are already underway to update ‘national biodiversity strategy and action plans’ that translate the full suite of goals and targets into policy and regulatory transformation. These changes are relevant to numerous business activities and supply chains, and present new risks as well as sustainable finance opportunities for FIs. UNEP FI supports our members and key stakeholders to feed into and respond to these developments, and work together implement the Framework within their own remit.

Key actions that FIs can take immediately

  • Identify nature-related risks, impacts and opportunities across their business operations and portfolios, by using recognised tools and methodologies such as ENCORE and guidance from internationally recognised initiatives such as the TNFD.
  • Set organisation-wide strategy on nature, including the definition of science-based targets that take ambitious action to restore and protect nature, using guidance from internationally recognised initiatives such as the Science Based Target Networks.
  • Participate in the relevant industry platform for banking, insurance or investment. Set portfolio-wide targets: For example, many banks that are members of the Principles for Responsible Banking are setting biodiversity targets as one of the two mandatory targets they must set within four years of becoming a signatory.
  • Get involved in sectoral and thematic platforms such as the Sustainable Blue Economy Finance Initiative or the Good Food Finance Network, according to your portfolio, to shape norms that will be picked up across the industry in the decade ahead.

Useful links

Members of UNEP FI also have access to a dedicated list of sector-specific resources relating to the Global Biodiversity Framework on this page in the UNEP FI Members Area.