10/10/2025
16:00 - 17:30
Virtual Channel 1
, Online only
Session with interpretation
Why attend
Mainstreaming biodiversity is key to ensuring a prosperous future for people and the planet. But is it feasible? Participants will share experiences and co-create solutions on integrating nature into infrastructure development.
Session Description
Infrastructure is essential to meet human needs and support economic growth, but traditional ways of designing and building infrastructure can drive habitat loss and fragmentation, open access for illegal logging and hunting, disrupt wildlife migration pathways, and degrade biodiversity and ecosystem services.With $139 trillion of sustainable infrastructure investment needed to reach net zero by 2050, the sector must change course. Sustainable approaches that contribute to biodiversity gains and prioritize inclusive, nature-based, and zero-carbon infrastructure development can produce positive, lasting outcomes for people and nature.
Participants will discuss how to incorporate nature and climate into the infrastructure lifecycle, considering different socio-political contexts. Together we will explore examples, such as the Global Environment Facility-funded Greening Infrastructure Development Integrated Program, and recommendations from different sectors on critical upstream actions (e.g., planning, policies and regulations, financial mechanisms, institutional capacity) that can drive system-wide change in how infrastructure is built and natural infrastructure is maintained.