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Under the theme ‘Cooperation in a Fragmented World’, the annual World Economic Forum 2023 will bring together more than 2,500 leaders from government, business and civil society, at a pivotal time for the world.

As we foresaw, the impetus on biodiversity and Nature-based Solutions has further gathered momentum, with COP15 continuing to pave the way on how to deliver a net-positive impact on nature.

COP15 is taking place in Montreal, Canada, from 5 December to 17 December, more than two years after the summit was meant to have taken place. Delegates from across the globe are meeting to produce a Paris Agreement-style deal for nature, resulting in an end to the degradation of biodiversity and the acceleration and mainstreaming of work to restore ecosystems and habitats.

In July, the United Nations General Assembly declared that everyone has the right to live in a healthy, sustainable environment. In so doing, it recognised that the well-being of our society is inextricably bound to the functions of the natural world.

Today saw biodiversity take centre stage at COP27, which aimed to advance and institutionalize action towards valuing, conserving, restoring, and sustainably using biodiversity across terrestrial, freshwater, coastal, and marine ecosystems to reduce climate change impacts and leverage nature-based solutions to mitigate and adapt to climate change and build resilience for people and nature.

Tomorrow, Wednesday 16^th November, will be biodiversity day at COP27, focusing on discussions around nature and Nature-based Solutions (NbS). Nature-based Solutions are actions that involve working with and enhancing natural habitats for societal good through restoration, management and protection; such as preserving and regrowing forests, and restoring wetlands and peatlands as carbon sinks, or regrowing mangrove swamps as barriers against storm surges and higher sea levels.