International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)

The success of CBD #COP17 will depend not only on how much money is mobilised for nature, but on who receives it and whose knowledge counts 🌿 As the world looks ahead to COP17 this October, two issues will be critical to getting the Global Biodiversity Framework back on track: scaling up nature finance and strengthening gender-responsive biodiversity data. Nicola Sorsby and Karen Wong-Perez argue that these priorities are deeply interconnected. Closing the nature finance gap isn't just about mobilising more money. It's about ensuring finance reaches the Indigenous Peoples, local communities, Afro-descendants and women's organisations who are already protecting nature, and giving them greater power over how those resources are used. 📊 At the same time, biodiversity action is only as strong as the evidence behind it. Women’s organisations, particularly those rooted in Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant, and local communities, have a long history in generating data that shows how biodiversity loss affects people differently, based on their specific contexts, gender social norms, and intersecting identities. This data it also shows what women’s organisations and women-led initiatives are already doing to protect nature. Data is power: it shows what is working and, critically, what isn't. This is what we've been working to highlight through our work with the CBD Women's Caucus. As negotiations continue ahead of COP17, governments must move beyond commitments and accelerate action that is both well-funded and inclusive. Read Nicola and Karen's recommendations for COP17 in this new insight 📖 link in the comments Amelia Arreguín Prado Shruti Ajit Fatima El-aaraby Marcelle Mardon Marion Pobo Dilys Roe Barbara Lassen Dr Mohsen Gul Amanda Austin Claudia Rubio Giraldo Gabriela Balvedi Pimentel Sadia Satti Joanne Crawford AM Fleur Newman Bridget K. Burns Wiebke Bender

🌿 Nature has a vital role to play in making cities more resilient, but are the people most vulnerable to climate change benefiting from it? As climate risks intensify, nature-based solutions are increasingly recognised as a way to reduce heat, manage flooding, restore biodiversity and improve wellbeing. However, it remains unclear whether these solutions are being considered for some of the most climate-vulnerable areas: cities and informal residents. This is what IIED and partners are exploring through a new project 🏙️ The project will examine: ⚖️ how nature-based solutions are reflected in policy and practice 👐 document community-led examples already making a difference 📊 identify evidence gaps, and 🏫 explore how nature can be better integrated into informal settlement upgrading and climate resilience planning. With more than 1.1 billion people living in informal settlements worldwide, ensuring urban climate solutions are inclusive, participatory and locally led has never been more important. Learn more about the project 👇 https://lnkd.in/d9ybBi-Z Nora Nisi Nina Schoonman Anna Walnycki Tucker Landesman

Brazil is showing that farming and forests don't have to compete 🌿 In Tomé Açu, a pioneering agroforestry system is demonstrating that it is possible to produce more food, increase farmers' incomes and restore nature at the same time. ✍ In this new insight, Duncan Macqueen explains how the Sistema Agroflorestal Dendê, an industrial-scale agroforestry system that combines oil palm with crops such as cocoa, açaí and banana, is delivering almost double the product value of conventional monocultures while improving biodiversity, soil health and climate resilience. Duncan also highlights how this success is inspiring TERRA, a Brazilian initiative working to scale up agroforestry as part of a broader transition towards more resilient and regenerative food systems. 🌳 With the right investment, farmer organisations and long-term support, agroforestry can help tackle some of the world's biggest challenges, from food security and rural livelihoods to climate change and biodiversity loss. Read more 👇 https://lnkd.in/dJ-dVmE6

Equity and rights must be at the heart of delivering the Global Biodiversity Framework. It was a pleasure to co-host this #SBSTTA28 side event with the CBD Women's Caucus and partners, exploring how target 3 can be implemented in ways that recognise rights, strengthen gender equality and support effective conservation. Read more below ⬇️

Join FAO and partners online this September for the Forest and Farm Facility 2026 Global Conference. Building on more than a decade of direct investment in 420 forest and farm producer organizations across 15 countries, this five-day global conference will showcase the transformative role of producer organizations in agrifood systems. 'Scaling what works: Producer-led solutions for improved livelihoods & forest landscapes' 🗓️ 9-13 September 2026 Register now 👉 https://lnkd.in/gA4-2Sjf #ForestFarmFacility International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) IUCN AgriCord FAO

In Malawi, a community-led approach is helping smallholder farming households build resilience to climate shocks while improving food security and livelihoods 🤝 This new briefing shares the findings from the Climate Just Communities Malawi project, delivered between 2023 and 2026 with funding from the Scottish Government and implemented by DAI and local partners across seven districts. The endline evaluation found that the project contributed to: 🌽 Increased adoption of organic fertilisers 💧 Higher annual maize yields through improved irrigation 👩🏾🌾 Greater women's economic empowerment and financial inclusion through village savings and loans associations 🌍 Reduced exposure to climate shocks among participating households The briefing also highlights important lessons for future climate resilience programmes, including the need for longer project timeframes, deeper community engagement and stronger measures to reduce livelihood risks before climate shocks occur. Find out more from the briefing 👇 https://lnkd.in/dKR-nM6K

COP17 🌿 can we get back on track? In October, governments will gather in Armenia for CBD #COP17. This will be the halfway point for delivering the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), the global agreement to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. The key message from the draft review is clear: although the GBF has sparked unprecedented global commitment to taking action on biodiversity, the world is not on track to achieve the 2030 targets ⛔ In this new insight, Nicola Sorsby and Barbara Lassen explore why COP17 is a pivotal moment, not only to assess progress, but to rethink how biodiversity action is being implemented. They argue that success requires shifting power, finance and decision-making to the people who are already protecting nature: 🌱 Indigenous Peoples and local communities must be recognised as leaders in biodiversity conservation, with their rights, knowledge and leadership at the heart of implementation. 💰 Nature finance must reach local actors and support locally led, rights-based and gender-responsive approaches. 🤝 Climate and biodiversity action must work together, with stronger links between CBD COP17 and #COP31 to deliver shared goals. As negotiations begin, IIED will be advocating for biodiversity action that is locally led, rights-based, gender-responsive and inclusive. We will also be present at COP17 to co-host side events and share new research on topics including nature finance, gender and biodiversity data, agroecology, conservation leadership and harmful subsidies. Over the coming months, IIED will explore many of these key issues in a series of insights 📲 follow us and make sure you don't miss any! Read the new insight to learn what needs to happen at COP17 to put global biodiversity goals back on track 🔗 link in comments Dilys Roe Oliver Arnold-Richards Rosalind Goodrich Duncan Macqueen Annabelle Bladon Anna Ducros Karen Wong-Perez Philippine Sutz Eileen Mairena Cunningham Katy Baker Eva Bortolotti Karla Martínez Toral Isabela Núñez del Prado Nieto

Have you registered for our event? 🕝 As countries prepare their next Biennial Transparency Reports, many of the world's Least Developed Countries (LDCs) are navigating submitting those while facing some of the most severe impacts of climate change. For LDCs, reporting on adaptation, and loss and damage, remains key. 🖥️ To support peer learning, IIED and the LDC Group on Climate Change are hosting a two-part webinar series where representatives from LDCs will share their challenges and good practices. This second session will be all about loss and damage 💭 Participant will get a chance to learn about the technical expertise, institutional arrangements and resources needed to strengthen reporting and get answers directly from LDC practitioners. ⏰ Wednesday 29 July, 10-11am BST 🗣️ Hear from great speakers: Gambwe Kaneneka Sikantongwe from the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment in Zambia, Annie Mapulanga from the Department of Disaster Management Affairs in Malawi and Lalaina Ambinintsoa from the National Office for Climate Change and REDD+ in Madagascar 🔗 Register now: https://lnkd.in/duJ-zNVx

We're delighted to be collaborating on this event with the CBD Women's Caucus and partners at #SBSTTA28 🌟 Bringing together diverse perspectives, from national institutions to Indigenous Peoples and local communities, is key to building biodiversity data systems that reflect lived realities and inform better decision-making. If you're not in Nairobi, you can watch the livestream from 18:15 (GMT+3) today 👇 https://lnkd.in/dtZPZZMh

One year ago, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) reshaped the global conversation on climate justice ⚖️ The ICJ's landmark ruling confirmed that states have legally binding obligations under international law to address climate change. This was the result of a huge global campaign that centred on climate justice, human rights and accountability. While the ruling has rightly been recognised as a major victory for climate justice, what does it actually mean in practice? 🤔 This IIED briefing explores the implications for international investment treaties, including those that protect fossil fuel investments. 📢 In 2023, IIED was among the first to highlight the relevance of investment treaty issues to the advisory opinion process. The briefing argues that if states are to meet their climate obligations, they must ensure that investment treaties are aligned with climate goals. With momentum building towards #COP31, understanding how international law can support the transition to a low-carbon future is key. Read the briefing 👇 https://lnkd.in/g6ZJpRC2 Lorenzo Cotula Jesse Coleman