Context

Science is a key ingredient in ensuring the implementation of evidence-based quality investments in Nature-based Solutions (NbS). Science also guides the design of innovative financial instruments that support high-level impact ambitions and commitments by providing concrete scientific evidence and solutions to key global challenges. While the relationship between science and business has been evolving, there is still a need to improve the dialogue between the two fields to create synergies with substantive impact.

To address this challenge, the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Sustainability of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and and CIFOR-ICRAF established Resilient Landscapes Luxembourg (RLL), to connect science with high-impact NbS investment opportunities throughout the geographies of landscape investment.

Luxembourg is increasingly strengthening the synergies between climate and biodiversity action in its international commitments and RLL specifically links actions of the Luxembourg International Climate Finance Strategy (2021-2025) and Luxembourg’s Environment and Climate Change Strategy (2021-2030), as well the obligations under the Paris Agreement.

By substantially contributing to the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss in a synergetic way, RLL also generates other environmental and social co-benefits. RLL environmental, social and governance assessments are robust and science-based, with clear metrics and impact results to enable the private sector to make real change for nature and people.

Luxembourg has been a pioneer in supporting various initiatives and partnerships for sustainable finance as well as international climate and biodiversity finance with a specific focus NbS-Solutions

With 70 years of combined expertise, and nearly 800 staff working across 60 countries, CIFOR-ICRAF Resilient Landscapes connects science with the private sector, while focusing on incubating projects that have either emerged from the CIFOR-ICRAF research portfolio or that come from external sources and can benefit from CIFOR-ICRAF expertise.

About the Side Event

This side-event will emphasize the vital roles of science, public and private finance in accelerating investments in Nature-based Solutions (NbS) as well as the unique aspects of RLL in this regard. This will be done by presenting projects from RLL’s first incubation cycle with a strong focus on concrete results proofing the business cases as well as highlighting the core environmental and social benefits of the different NbS projects, hence inciting an appetite for adoption and replication as well as partnership building among the participants.

Based on the presentations, the session as also aims at engaging private and public sector participants in conversations around the need to catalyze private sector investment into high-quality projects with significant biodiversity and climate co-benefits. Telling success stories based on a high-impact project portfolio backed by scientific evidence is one of the most influential tools in demonstrating the importance of ensuring high-quality standards in the NbS sector.