PROGRAMME
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High-Level Opening Session: Shaping Our Common FutureDuring the past century, we witnessed the sobering reality of a planet in peril, where the impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss, ecosystem deterioration, and pollution adversely and mercilessly impacted – and continue to impact — our livelihoods, health, economies, security, and our very survival. UNEP’s report “Making Peace with Nature” clearly states that the world is not on track to meet any of the environmental goals, a trajectory that we seek to challenge and overturn. What are the building blocks to doing better? To put the world on track to meet environmental goals? And if there is one thing that we need to either change or embrace to reach this goal, what would that be? The Opening Session of the Science-Policy-Business Forum, entitled “Shaping our Common Future,” will lay the foundations for the day’s deliberations. Leaders and visionaries, representing diverse sectors, will attempt to answer these questions through their distinct vantage point. The format is built around mini TED-like talks of 5 minutes each that are compact, focused, and impactful. According to Merriam-Webster, vision is defined as “the act of power of imagination.” When we apply vision to the future, we create not only aspiration but a determination to guide and direct our actions. Sharing their vision will be: |
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PART ONESECTOR-WIDE TRANSFORMATIONSUN-SPBF-style moderated, interactive debates. The sessions comprise deep-dive segments that speak to the wider theme, introducing perspectives and contributions from multiple sectors and stakeholders. |
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The Imperative for Resource Efficiency and Sustainable Value ChainsIn 2022, over 55% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions stemmed from biomass cultivation, mineral and fossil resource extraction, and their conversion into materials, fuels, and food. This figure rises to over 60% when emissions from land-use changes are included. Notably, these emissions have increased since the 2015 Paris Agreement, indicating that climate mitigation efforts have inadequately addressed resource-related impacts. The International Resource Panel’s “Global Resources Outlook” reveals that strategies like sustainable consumption, circular economy, and resource efficiency could slash CO2 emissions by over 80% by 2060. This reduction is achievable while still promoting well-being and economic growth. The session will discuss actionable strategies across housing, mobility, energy, and food systems, emphasizing justice and equity, based on the report’s insights. Leading the conversation: |
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Responsible Mining in a Resource-Hungry WorldCo-oorganized in cooperation with the Consumption and Production Unit of UNEP’s Industry and Economy Division, the International Resource Panel, and the UN-SPBF community As the global demand for minerals and metals surges, primarily driven by the low-carbon energy transition, infrastructure growth, and digitalization, the mining industry faces significant sustainability challenges. Between 1970 and 2017, mineral and metal extraction tripled and is projected to double again by 2060 (International Resource Panel, 2019). This debate will bring together industry leaders, government officials, and experts to discuss the future of responsible mining, focusing on sustainable practices and addressing environmental and social impacts. The session aims to explore enabling conditions for responsible mining and the sustainable use of mineral resources. It will address the need for effective, inclusive, and sustainable multilateral actions, with a particular focus on minimizing negative impacts and fostering sustainable development, especially in resource-rich developing countries. Key Themes:
Joining the conversation will be: |
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The Urban Environment: The Near-Zero Buildings of the FutureCo-organized with UNEP Cities Unit in cooperation with the UNEP-led Cool Coalition, Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (Global ABC) and Generation Restoration Urban areas are at the forefront of the pollution crisis, contributing significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions. Sustainable buildings offer a solution to reduce urban pollution levels and combat climate change. This session delves into how near-zero emission and resilient buildings can play a pivotal role in mitigating these challenges. It will bring together top experts from UN-Habitat, ICLEI, UNEP, the World Bank, the OECD and the private sector to discuss the intersection of sustainable architecture, urban planning, and environmental health. The session comes a week ahead of the Buildings and Climate Global Forum, convened in Paris by the governments of France and Morocco, in partnership with UNEP and the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction.
Joining the conversation will be: |
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Thread Lightly: Unravelling the Fabric of Sustainable FashionIn cooperation with UNEP’s Economy and Industry Division and the UN-SPBF community The fashion industry is a significant contributor to ecological degradation, responsible for 2-8% of global carbon emissions. The prevalent linear economic model in this sector, emphasizing a take-make-waste approach, has led to fashion being largely disposable. UNEP’s 2023 report, “Sustainability and Circularity in the Textile Value Chain: A Global Roadmap,” stresses the importance of shifting consumption patterns, improving practices, and investing in infrastructure to achieve a circular textile sector. The Sustainable Fashion Communication Playbook, co-published by UNEP and the UNFCCC, provides guidance on aligning consumer-facing communication with sustainability targets. The value chain approach in sustainable fashion focuses on each step of the creation of value of a product, from raw materials to final products, and consumer and post-consumer use. This approach ensures that environmental and social impacts are considered and minimized throughout the entire lifecycle of the product. Key aspects include circular product design, circular business model, sourcing sustainable materials, ensuring fair labor practices, minimizing waste during production, and promoting recycling and upcycling of products. This session will review the integration of sustainability in the textiles industry, gaining insights into a multifaceted challenge that requires the involvement of diverse stakeholders, including SMEs, large corporations, and financial institutions. The goal is to create a system that supports ecological integrity and social justice, transitioning from a linear model of production and consumption to a more circular and responsible one. Joining the conversation will be: |
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Building the Business Case for Soil HealthCo-organized in cooperation with UNEP’s Ecosystems Division, UNEP Major Groups and Stakeholders, UNEP’s Private Sector Unit and the One Planet network Sustainable Food Systems Programme Healthy soils and productive land resources are indispensable to our society and economy, underpinning over half of the global GDP ($44 trillion) through their contribution to natural capital. Their sustainable management is crucial for meeting the United Nations’ conventions on desertification, climate change, and biodiversity, alongside achieving numerous Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Despite their importance, these resources are imperiled by unsustainable agricultural practices, land management, and the accelerating impacts of climate change, leading to significant soil degradation, water depletion, and biodiversity loss. Annually, we witness the loss of 24 billion tonnes of topsoil, a consequence of unsustainable soil management practices. This loss necessitates increased use of pesticides and nitrogenous fertilizers, further exacerbating soil acidity, pesticide residues, and nutrient overload, which detrimentally affect both human and planetary health. UNEP’s engagement through initiatives such as the Global Partnership on Nutrients Management and the Decade of Ecosystems Restoration, alongside promoting the transition to sustainable food systems via the One Planet network, highlights the essential policies and actions needed to confront this crisis that endangers our food supply. This roundtable discussion aims to foster a collaborative approach among multiple stakeholders to conserve and rejuvenate our planet’s soil and land resources for future generations. The roundtable will focus on constructing a compelling investment case and fostering accelerated action through multi-stakeholder collaboration to enhance soil health ecosystems. It will explore a comprehensive public-private partnership model for revitalizing soil health and rehabilitating degraded lands and ecosystems. Key Objectives:
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13:00-14:00Lunch BreakSPBF High Level Lunch (By Invitation Only) |
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PART TWOECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL TOOLSEconomic and Financial Tools: Tracking Financial Flows to Nature |
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Opening Plenary |
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High Level Panel: Tracking Financial Flows to Nature-based SolutionsCo-organized in cooperation with UNEP’s Climate Finance Unit, UNEP’s Finance Initiative, and UN-SPBF partners Nature-based Solutions provide critical investment opportunities as they are cost-effective and provide multiple benefits. The opening segment of this session will explore the scale of nature-negative finance flows from both public and private sector sources globally, comparing them to the finance needed to maximize the potential of Nature-based Solutions to help tackle climate, biodiversity, and degradation challenges. This segment builds on UNEP’s newly launched report ‘State of Finance for Nature 2023’ which tracks finance flows to Nature-based Solutions. Joining the conversation will be: |
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The Argument for High-Integrity Carbon MarketsThe integrity and effectiveness of carbon markets are vital for meeting the goals of the SDGs and the Paris Agreement. One of the key challenges is ensuring they benefit developing countries, which often face the dilemma of balancing fossil fuel exploration for economic development with environmental sustainability. Addressing equality and equity, especially in developing countries, is central to the effectiveness of carbon markets. This includes ensuring that carbon markets are designed to support sustainable development in these regions, rather than exploiting them. UNEP’s Copenhagen Climate Centre has explored methodologies to promote transformational change through carbon markets. CTCN concluded that ‘Digitalization’, ‘Private sector and Governments’, ‘Carbon pricing’, and ‘Dynamic baselines’ are key actions toward transformational change. Meanwhile, the World Bank has just launched ambitious plans for the growth of high-integrity global carbon markets, with 15 countries set to earn income from the sale of carbon credits generated from preserving their forests. By next year, these countries will have produced over 24 million credits, and as many as 126 million by 2028. These credits could earn up to $2.5 billion in the right market conditions. The private sector, particularly corporates, plays a role in driving demand for carbon credits, though this has been met with challenges like accusations of greenwashing and the need for clearer guidelines on credit quality and claims. Financial institutions are pivotal in providing the necessary capital and investment products to support these markets. The voluntary carbon market is at an inflection point, with growth slowing due to uncertainties about credit quality, eligibility, and public scrutiny, including accusations of greenwashing. This highlights the need for clearer global standards and consistent guidelines to bolster market confidence and integrity. Joining the conversation will be: |
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The Cost of Climate & Nature Positive Transitions: From Strategy to ActionCo-organized with I4CE– Institute for Climate Economics Countries have made significant progress in developing climate and sustainability strategies. However, when it comes to moving from strategic planning to effective implementation, key questions need to be addressed: how much will the transition cost? What will be the respective roles of the public and the private sector? Which domestic and international sources of funding can be mobilized to fulfill additional public spending needs? Integrated sustainability financing plans will help countries answer these questions and hence their development is one the most critical steps towards the achievement of climate and SDGs objectives. By providing an integrated whole-of-economy, whole-of-society approaches, financing plans lay out the financial equation that countries need to solve and constitute a roadmap to bridge the finance gap. This segment will explore country sustainability experiences from a whole-of-economy perspective, building on individual experiences and a multi-sectoral approach. Joining the conversation will be: |
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PART THREETOWARDS INTEGRATED EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS |
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Forecasting the Future: Towards Integrated Early Warning Systems for the PlanetCo-organized in cooperation with the Early Warning and Data Analytics Branch of UNEP’s Early Warning and Assessment Division Early Warning Systems (EWS) and Early Warning for Environment (EWE) are fundamental accelerators for the Achievement of Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development. EWE is a complementary dimension of the Early Warning for All Initiative, endorsed by the UN Secretary-General, which is a critical adaptive measure for climate change, saving millions of lives and protecting socio-economic losses, with more impact on developing nations and the most vulnerable. EWE is a co-creation process involving now twelve UN Agencies and four Multi-Lateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), aiming at providing Early Warning services to 100 developing countries until 2030. In this engaging and informative session, we delve into the critical topic of EWS and EWE and their role in addressing the three planetary crises identified by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP): climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. The debate aims to uncover the effectiveness, challenges, and prospects of EWS in mitigating the impacts of natural and man-made hazards. The debate will be structured into several key segments, each focusing on a specific aspect of EWS. Expert panelists will offer insights, backed by data and case studies, followed by interactive discussions and audience Q&A session. Key Themes:
Joining the conversation will be:
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Closing Session |
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