Programme

Our program is scheduled in accordance with the Geneva time zone (CET/CEST)

09:00
Forum Opening
09:00 - 09:30
Plenary A
09:30
Morning spotlight with ... Bertrand Piccard
Keynote address
09:30 - 10:00
Plenary A
The pioneer responsible for the first fuelless flight around the world!

Bertrand Piccard will take to the stage to denounce the absurdity of polluting and the inefficient systems that are still used too often today. He will also share why he passionately advocates for the modernisation of legal frameworks that capture the benefits of, and create a market for, efficient solutions.
10:00
Divide - come together - and conquer: Who does what for GBF implementation?
Leaders Dialogue 1
10:00 - 11:00
Plenary A
11:00
Coffee break
11:00 - 11:30
Coffee break provided in the networking areas.
11:30
Leaders Exchange for Action and Decision-Making (LEAD) - By Invitation Only Session
11:30 - 13:00
Addressing sovereign debt to scale nature finance
More, but much better: Achieving lasting outcomes for nature
11:30 - 13:00
This session will raise your hopes for the future of the planet. We know how to solve the three interlinked crises of biodiversity loss, climate change and emerging zoonotic diseases. Collective action to scale conservation efforts globally is urgent. But it's not just a question of quantity. The answer lies in the quality of our interventions to protect, restore and sustainably use nature. Join us to learn how we can scale effective conservation action to change the course for nature.
People for nature: an inclusive and empowering just transition
11:30 - 13:00
Long-term effective nature conservation is achieved by actors working together to deliver biodiversity outcomes for people and for nature. Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities have played an outsized role in nature conservation and will continue to do so as we look towards 203; their unique contributions and challenges need to be acknowledged and addressed if we are to deliver the GBF in an inclusive, just manner. In this session, leaders from different sectors will facilitate a discussion on how to elevate IPs and LCs in the GBF target specific to their field of work.

English/Spanish interpretation provided.
Reconciling conservation and development in production landscapes and seascapes
11:30 - 13:00
Join us in exploring silo-busting approaches to landscapes and seascapes, a crucial path toward achieving global biodiversity goals while fostering a triple-win scenario for nature, society, and the economy. Engage in an enlightening dialogue with leaders from various sectors, and acquire actionable insights into innovative strategies that combat ecosystem degradation, climate change, and pollution.
13:00
Leaders Exchange for Action and Decision-Making (LEAD) - By Invitation Only Session
13:00 - 14:30
Demand Drivers for High Integrity Outcomes – Understanding Who wants What
Leaders Exchange for Action and Decision-Making (LEAD) - By Invitation Only Session
13:00 - 14:30
This invitation-only session will convene Ministers to address the crucial challenge of reconciling ambition with available resources in the context of the UN CBD and UNFCCC, and in the implementation of global goals and ambitions associated with these frameworks.
Lunch break
13:00 - 14:30
Espace Violeta Parra
Lunch provided at Espace Violeta Parra on level 1.
14:30
Let’s talk business: Accelerating action for GBF implementation
Leaders Dialogue 2
14:30 - 15:30
Plenary A
This high-level session will consider the risks and opportunities associated with halting and reversing nature loss for different sectors of the economy. Business, finance and government leaders will identify areas in which transformation in business leadership across sectors, as well as transformation in different enabling environments is critically needed to accelerate action towards GBF implementation. Different stakeholder groups will also highlight bottlenecks and identify priority solutions that can support deployment at scale, and contribute to the GBF goals.
  • Patricia Danzi

    Director-General

    Swiss agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)

  • Rob Cameron

    Vice President Global Head of Public Affairs and ESG Engagement

    Nestlé

  • Diane B. Holdorf

    Executive Vice President

    The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)

  • Gim Huay Neo

    Managing Director

    Centre for Nature and Climate, World Economic Forum

15:30
Coffee break
15:30 - 16:00
Coffee break provided in the networking areas.
16:00
A visitor’s guide: how tourism contributes to the achievement of the global biodiversity conservation goals and targets
16:00 - 17:00
This session will illustrate, with examples, the way that inclusive nature, culture and heritage-centred tourism, will contribute to achieving some of the goals and targets of the Global Biodiversity Framework, including showcasing the “comprehensive regeneration” approach being adopted by the Royal Commission for AlUla and partners.
Accelerating nature-positive urban development
16:00 - 17:00
This session will bring together city leaders, representatives from MDBs, global initiatives and the private sector to identify new collaborations, foster synergies to maximise cities’ contributions to the GBF.

English/Spanish/French interpretation provided.
Speed-networking event
Networking event
16:00 - 17:00
The Future of Work in Nature-based Solutions
16:00 - 17:00
This session will bring together leaders from across governments, international organisations, the conservation community, and the private sector to discuss how NbS can contribute to green jobs and what must be done to ensure a transition to green jobs in NbS.

English/Spanish interpretation provided.
17:15
Changemakers Pitch Event
Pitch event
17:15 - 18:45
Come and listen to inspiring young leaders and entrepeneurs, selected from a pool of over 3,500 global applicants, as they pitch their innovative solutions to address some of the most complex nature and biodiversity challenges of our time. Following a short pitch presentation, each changemaker will respond to questions from a jury panel as well as the audience.
19:00
Welcome reception
19:00 - 20:30
Espace Wangari Maathai
Hosted by the Swiss Confederation

Join us for a reception to celebrate this year’s event and network with all our participants on site.
08:00
Leaders Exchange for Action and Decision-Making (LEAD) - By Invitation Only Session
08:00 - 09:30
The Role of Business Sustainability Leadership in Accelerating Nature Action
09:30
Morning spotlight with ... Sylvie Goulard
Keynote address
09:30 - 10:00
Plenary A
She will take to the stage to highlight why pledges and commitments on paper are not enough and why, more than ever, we need people talking with their guts to convince the world that urgent action on climate change and biodiversity loss is needed now.
10:00
Nature-Positive as a goal, biodiversity as a foundation
Leaders Dialogue 3
10:00 - 11:00
Plenary A
Nature-Positive is a fundamental change of paradigm. It is a direction of travel and a global goal. However, it needs to be measurable and verifiable if we are to reverse biodiversity loss. Panellists will discuss the importance of building in living nature, as well as the value of having targets and measurements, with a focus on biodiversity.

English/Spanish interpretation provided.
11:00
Coffee break
11:00 - 11:30
Coffee break provided in the networking areas.
11:30
Finding the Golden Thread: linking finance and resources to successful conservation outcomes for 30x30
11:30 - 13:00
This session will help us understand how financing and resources can best be connected to successful conservation outcomes for the planet. The GBF targets and 30x30 ambitions provide the scope and the scale of what is needed, and calls on an unprecedented level of resourcing by Government and society. How can we make this investment work, and deliver the outcomes we need?

English/Spanish interpretation provided.
From TNFD Framework to Action: Delivering Robust Biodiversity and Nature Disclosures for Business Transformation
11:30 - 13:00
This session will focus on the TNFD framework, to be released in September 2023. IUCN, partners, business and other stakeholders will take the stage to share their views and experiences incorporating biodiversity in the TNFD framework and towards a nature positive future. The session will also feature a report back from the Building Bridges 2023 event, taking place the week prior to the IUCN Leaders Forum.

English/Spanish/French interpretation provided.
13:00
Lunch break
13:00 - 14:30
Espace Wangari Maathai
Lunch provided at Espace Wangari Maathai on level 2.
14:30
Mind the gap: advancing GBF-aligned investment
Leaders Dialogue 4
14:30 - 15:30
Plenary A
This session will explore what is keeping financing hurdles in place, the prospects to overcome them in the near future, and what we could expect as the resulting roles from private and public finance in support of advancing GBF-aligned investment.
15:30
Coffee break
15:30 - 16:00
Coffee break provided in the networking areas.
16:00
The Future of Biodiversity Credits: Learning from Carbon Markets
16:00 - 17:00
This session will consider lessons from challenges and successes of carbon markets for biodiversity credit markets; explore new products being designed for biodiversity credits, and their contributions to the goals; and explore ways in which biodiversity credit markets can contribute to GBF delivery. The session will also connect with IUCN and partners’ work on nature-positive and IUCN’s biodiversity-positive approach.
Green health for a healthy future
16:00 - 17:00
This session will provide the space for an insightful discussion on how biodiversity can help to promote and enable healthier societies, and further explore how the environment and health sectors can start working together to drive a global agenda for policy and action related to biodiversity conservation, restoration and sustainable use that generates or enhances human health benefits.
  • Bettina Hoffmann

    Parliamentary State Secretary Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection

    Germany

How can Provinces advance global targets for both climate and biodiversity?
16:00 - 17:00
This session will hear from subnational governments on how they are developing and implementing projects that contribute to multiple biodiversity and climate targets in an integrated, practical, and effective manner. It will also consider how provinces can best design, track results and report on progress in a credible and assured manner.

English/Spanish/French interpretation provided.
  • Yann Wehrling

    Vice-President in charge of Ecological Transition, Climate and Biodiversity

    Ile de France Region

  • Benoit Charette

    Minister of the Environment and the Fight against Climate Change

    Quebec

  • SungAh Lee

    Deputy Director General – Corporate Services

    IUCN

17:00
Coffee break
17:00 - 17:15
Coffee break provided in the networking areas.
17:15
Changemakers Pitch Event
Pitch event
17:15 - 18:45
Come and listen to inspiring young leaders and entrepeneurs, selected from a pool of over 3,500 global applicants, as they pitch their innovative solutions to address some of the most complex nature and biodiversity challenges of our time. Following a short pitch presentation, each changemaker will respond to questions from a jury panel as well as the audience.
08:00
Leaders Exchange for Action and Decision-Making (LEAD) - By Invitation Only Session
08:00 - 09:30
IPLCs and inclusive finance – accelerating partnerships for GBF implementation

English/Spanish interpretation provided.
Leaders Exchange for Action and Decision-Making (LEAD) - By Invitation Only Session
08:00 - 09:30
Partnerships for the global goals: Subnational governments and the GBF
Leaders Exchange for Action and Decision-Making (LEAD) - By Invitation Only Session
08:00 - 09:30
Piloting nature positive – what are market leaders up to?
09:30
Morning spotlight with ... Zaya Guarani
Keynote address
09:30 - 10:00
Plenary A
Indigenous model and activist.

She will take to the stage to share her unique story about growing up in the Brazilian Amazon and why she has become a passionate global voice for Indigenous rights and Mother Nature.
  • Zaya Guarani

    Indigenous model and activist

    from the Brazilian Amazon

10:00
Like two peas in a pod: Integrating the nature and climate agendas
Leaders Dialogue 5
10:00 - 11:00
Plenary A
This session will practically explore what it means to integrate, at the policy levels, the nature and climate agendas, beyond NbS; and what the GBF means on the road to the UNFCCC COP28 in November. The session will also consider how existing climate financing can incorporate nature and biodiversity targets.

English/Spanish interpretation provided.
11:00
Coffee break
11:00 - 11:30
Coffee break provided in the networking areas.
11:30
Accelerating Climate Transformation through Nature
11:30 - 13:00
The science is clear, an adequate response to climate change and biodiversity loss demands an integrated approach. The ENACT Partnership (Enhancing Nature-based Solutions for Accelerated Climate Transformation) was launched by the Egyptian COP Presidency at UNFCCC COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh in collaboration with the Government of Germany and IUCN to achieve this integration on a global scale through accelerated implementation of high-integrity Nature-based Solutions (NbS). This session will provide a high-level forum between State and non-state actors on key efforts toward policy cohesiveness and action and set the focus for ENACT and the ENACT-ing A Billion campaign which will operationalize the partnership’s NbS Goals.
Harnessing innovative digital technology for delivery of the Global Biodiversity Framework goals and targets
11:30 - 13:00
This session will showcase the transformative potential of innovative technology and digital solutions that – when combined with participatory, multi-stakeholder processes – can transform biodiversity conservation and contribute to delivery of GBF targets. The session will spotlight innovative technology and digital solutions to measure, monitor, and report on progress towards the implementation of the GBF goals on the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of biodiversity and ecosystems by 2030.

English/Portuguese interpretation provided.
Indigenous peoples, Local Communities, and Finance: an inclusive dialogue
11:30 - 13:00
This session will bring IPLCs in conversation with business and finance actors to discuss inclusive finance for the global goals. The session will focus on the urgent need for direct access to resources for the implementation of the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Fund. The newly established Podong Indigenous Peoples’ Initiative, a collaboration between IUCN, IUCN IPO members and the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity (IIFB), will also be presented.

English/Spanish/French interpretation provided.
Leaders Exchange for Action and Decision-Making (LEAD) - By Invitation Only Session
11:30 - 13:00
The importance of living nature in company disclosure
13:00
Lunch break
13:00 - 14:30
Lunch provided at Espace Violeta Parra on level 1.
14:30
Forum closing
Forum closing
14:30 - 15:30
Plenary A
English/Spanish/French interpretation provided.
15:30
Farewell drinks
15:30 - 16:30