Where is the capital to restore the world’s degraded landscapes?

18 Nov 2019

Global experts on sustainable finance convene in Luxembourg to find the necessary capital to address threats from climate change, unsustainable land use

LUXEMBOURG CITY, Luxembourg (18 November 2019) – Consider this: less than 3 percent of all climate financing is actually earmarked for restoration work, even though restoring just a fifth of all landscapes that have opportunities in this regard could bring returns of some USD 9 trillion. Resources earmarked for restoration, meanwhile, have been very slow to trickle down to the enormous number of projects that need support.

In response to this financial gap, the fourth annual Global Landscapes Forum Luxembourg 2019: Investment Case Symposium will raise answers to its thematic question: How can we move sustainable land-use financing into the mainstream? On 30 November 2019, some of the brightest and most engaged global leaders working toward financing landscape restoration will meet to discuss the specifics of business cases that work and have the potential to achieve widespread positive impact.

Ambitious restoration targets have already been set at the international level. Now, the largest challenge is unblocking investment flows into restoration efforts. The U.N. and other development agencies hope to redouble efforts to raise funds for restoration when the Decade on Ecosystem Restoration kicks off in 2021. Public, private and blended finance must play a role – but how?

Hear discussions around these pressing issues, potential solutions, and much more from key figures in the sector, including:

  • Mariem Dkhil, Director of Sustainable Financing, Credit Agricole of Morocco
  • Sylvain Goupille, Founder and Managing Director of Mirova Natural Capital and the Althelia Funds
  • Jennifer Pryce, President and CEO of Calvert Impact Capital
  • Gautier Quéru, Director, Land Degradation Neutrality Fund, Mirova
  • Carole Dieschbourg, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development of Luxembourg
  • Martin Berg, Head, Environmental Funds & Climate Finance Policy Unit, European Investment Bank
  • Antoine Sire, Director of the Company Engagement Department, BNP Paribas
  • Pauline Nantongo Kalunda, Director, EcoTrust

“This GLF will be tackling enormous questions that must be answered if we are going to find the necessary capital to address the threats that unsustainable land use poses for confronting climate change while restoring and safeguarding biodiversity,” said Christopher Knowles, Advisory Council Member at Climate Bonds Initiative and OECD Centre on Green Finance and Investment.

The one-day event will follow the U.N. Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) Regional Roundtable 28–29 November 2019, inviting participants from finance, business and government into the conversation on sustainable finance.

The GLF Forum is co-organized by Luxembourg for Finance and hosted by the Luxembourg Ministry of Finance and Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development with funding from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation (BMZ) and Development and the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU). Previous Investment Case Symposiums were hosted at the IFC World Bank in 2018 and at the London Royal Society in 2016 and 2015.

Those unable to attend GLF Luxembourg 2019 in person can participate via livestreaming of the entire day’s events through the GLF Luxembourg 2019 Digital Edition.

For further information and interviews contact:

 Melissa Kaye Angel
Communications Coordinator
Global Landscapes Forum (GLF)
Email: M.KayeAngel@cgiar.org

Share your thoughts with us