Key Impact Points:
- 91 Biodiversity Finance Plans launched: More than 130 countries convened in Chile, with 92 advancing national strategies to unlock sustainable nature finance.
- $1.6B catalyzed through BIOFIN: UNDP’s finance-for-finance model is already unlocking billions, with examples from Argentina, Ecuador, Thailand, and Kazakhstan.
- Push to close $700B biodiversity finance gap: Countries and partners like the GEF emphasized realigning public and private capital to meet Kunming-Montreal biodiversity targets.
Countries Unite to Fund Nature Amid Declining Aid
The world’s largest biodiversity finance gathering took place in Santiago, Chile (May 6–8), as over 130 countries joined the 6th Global Conference on Biodiversity Finance, organized by UNDP’s Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN).
The event marked a breakthrough moment: 92 new countries presented national Biodiversity Finance Plans aimed at aligning development and conservation.
“We are very proud as a country to welcome the 133 countries that are part of UNDP’s BIOFIN,” said H.E. Maisa Rojas, Chile’s Minister of Environment.
“Today, the main challenge is to make biodiversity visible and recognize its critical role in economic development, social organization, and the identity of our countries.”
Momentum continues later this month with the Nature Summit, taking place from May 19–22 in Panama City. Held during UN Global Climate Week, the Summit will bring together leaders from over 180 countries to announce new climate finance commitments and launch nature-based solutions on the road to COP30. Confirmed speakers include Simon Stiell, UNFCCC, Juan Carlos Navarro, and Robert Mærsk Uggla, reinforcing Panama’s rise as a diplomatic hub for global sustainability action.
Finance Innovation Anchors Biodiversity Push
Participants explored solutions including nature bonds, fintech, nature credits, subsidy reform, and the “finance-for-finance” model, which has already catalyzed $1.6 billion for nature across 41 countries.
“Safeguarding nature is not just one priority among many — it is the foundation that sustains our economies, our societies, and the promise of a dignified future,” said Michelle Muschett, UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Regional Director.
BIOFIN’s impact examples in 2024 include:
- Botswana: $7M in new park revenues from protected area fee reform
- Argentina: $420M plan in Misiones Province including jaguar insurance
- Ecuador: $800M in nature-positive microloans
- Thailand: Coral protection fees generated $314K
- Kazakhstan: Protected area budgets tripled to $70.3M
“The GEF is pleased to be working with BIOFIN to accelerate the actions that will close the biodiversity finance gap,” said Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, CEO and Chairperson of the GEF.
Private Sector and Subsidy Reform in Focus
A growing call emerged to repurpose environmentally harmful subsidies, creating dual wins for budgets and ecosystems. The private sector’s role is also expanding via green bonds, access and benefit-sharing, and financing mechanisms linked to genetic resources.
“Together we are helping governments realign financial flows and mobilize domestic resources for biodiversity,” said Rodríguez.
The event reinforced UNDP’s Nature Pledge, supporting 140 countries to achieve biodiversity goals and unlock $10 trillion in potential economic opportunity.
“By bringing together over 130 countries, we are not only reaffirming our collective commitment… but also translating that commitment into actionable strategies,” said Midori Paxton, Global Director of UNDP’s Nature Hub.
Paving the Way to COP30 and Beyond
With biodiversity loss and climate change reinforcing each other, the urgency to integrate nature finance into development agendas is paramount. The outcomes from this conference set the stage for two critical global milestones in 2025:
- UN’s Fourth Conference on Financing for Development (Spain)
- UN Climate COP30 (Brazil)
As traditional aid declines, new models like finance-for-finance will be key to closing the $700B biodiversity finance gap and advancing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Related Article: Nature Summit 2025 May 19–23: Where Climate Capital Meets the Moment
