UN Biodiversity Conference (COP16): Our Foundation Granted Observer Status

Biodiversity is essential for life on Earth. It regulates the climate, supports ecosystem stability, and provides food, medicine, clean air, and water. It also underpins key industries such as agriculture and tourism. Without biodiversity, ecosystems would collapse, jeopardising all life, including humans.

During the latest UN Biodiversity Conference, our Executive Director, Dario Soto Abril, has had a busy agenda. He concluded the third round of dialogues launched in collaboration with Latimpacto, aiming to form a coalition of corporate foundations and investors committed to climate action in Latin America. Dario also participated in a panel with CAF, the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, and engaged with some of our partners, including Plan Vivo Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM).   

These interactions provided valuable insights into the progress of our supported programmes and the benefits they bring to communities, reinforcing the importance of continued collaboration. As we move forward, we are committed to applying these learnings to refine our strategies and investments for maximum impact. 

The dialogues and partnerships fostered at COP16 have further prompted us to consider the broader impact of these global gatherings, highlighting the critical role they play in driving collective action and shaping sustainable solutions.

                    Are Global Conferences Truly Moving the Needle?

In response to this legitimate question, we believe that thoughtful participation in such opportunities can drive meaningful change. Since launching our 2023-2027 strategy, we have prioritised collective action with stakeholders, including philanthropies, development agencies, multilateral organisations, investors, academia, and donors. This approach ensures our investments add maximum value to ongoing efforts by leveraging additional funding and expertise.

Global gatherings support our approach by facilitating knowledge-sharing, coordination, and breaking down silos. This helps to avoid the inefficiencies and wasted resources that can result when multiple actors pursue similar initiatives in isolation.

Avoiding such inefficiencies is particularly pressing, as the majority of climate funding is directed towards mitigation efforts. In contrast, only a small fraction supports adaptation initiatives, which are essential for communities to adjust to climate impacts and are currently significantly underfunded. Our Foundation is dedicated to building coalitions to bridge this funding gap.

Our strategic partners are united on the global stage to tackle shared challenges. This commitment strengthens our impact as we work together towards sustainable solutions. 

                    Strengthening Collective Action through Global Engagement

Here are some recent examples of collective actions resulting from this approach:

Engaging Leaders at New York Climate Week

We co-organised a high-level funders’ roundtable with our partner Clim-Eat, bringing together influential leaders from business, philanthropy, and the food and environmental sectors. Among the attendees was Carlos Alvarado Quesada, former President of Costa Rica and architect of the country’s 2019 decarbonisation plan. The event focused on building consensus for actionable strategies to transform global food systems and drive climate action.

This event went beyond mere discussion. Participants including representatives from USAID, the Gates and Rockefeller Foundations, and Fairtrade America committed to developing a collaborative action plan in the coming months to amplify equitable initiatives and foster sustainable investments. Leveraging recent research insights, we aim to establish a robust network of leaders dedicated to driving transformative solutions in food systems.

Building a Coalition for Climate Action in LATAM

We launched a series of dialogues with Latimpacto, the Latin American Venture Philanthropy Network, featuring three roundtables that took place at key events in autumn 2024: the Latimpacto annual conference, New York Climate Week, and COP16. These discussions aim to identify champions and create a blueprint for action, fostering a coalition of corporate foundations and investors committed to climate action in Latin America ahead of the UN Climate Conference (COP30) to be held in Brazil in November 2025.

Advocating for Policy Influence with ClimateWorks

These actions support the calls to action we have endorsed with ClimateWorks and major philanthropic funders. The first call, made during the COP28 climate conference in December 2023, aims to accelerate global adaptation efforts by enhancing learning, coordination, and investment for climate resilience, with collective reporting planned for COP30. This initiative seeks to amplify advocacy and foster policy changes at all levels. The second call, initiated in August 2024, unites a coalition of philanthropies committing an initial USD 50 million towards climate adaptation and resilience efforts.