CBD COP16: Fighting deforestation: an overview of financial players’ strategies

Forests play a major environmental role. On the one hand, they help to mitigate climate change by storing half of the planet’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. On the other, they are reservoirs of biodiversity, providing a home for more than 80% of terrestrial animal, plant and insect species. In March 2024, the IFD published a panorama of strategies on the Paris financial marketplace, presenting action levers for banks, insurance companies and asset managers to fight against deforestation. As part of the same approach, the IFD is now training a delegation of financial players who are willing to share their experience in the fight against deforestation.

The aim of this round table was to highlight the levers of action available to financial players in the fight against deforestation, and will bring together scientists, insurers, asset managers, public and private banks, developers of risk-tracking tools, NGOs, coalitions and international financial centres to harmonise exchanges and share best practice in order to accelerate action.

Speakers included:

Marguerite Culot, Head of Biodiversity, Nature Expert, Caisse des Depots

Karen Degouve, Head of Sustainable Finance, French Banking Federation

Niki Mardas, Executive Director Global Canopy

Lucy Pecqueur, Head of Biodiversity and Adaptation, Institut de la Finance Durable

Tim Steinweg, Head of Spring Initiative PRI