The session “Science-Policy-Business Innovations for Biodiversity”, held at the Nordic Business Pavilion on 21 October, explored how practical tools, collaboration and knowledge exchange can support evidence-informed, nature-positive decisions and implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Kaisa Korhonen-Kurki of the Finnish Environment Institute opened the session.
Elisa Dageville presented Biodiversa+’s Business and Biodiversity Toolkit, which helps businesses navigate policies and existing tools, use public biodiversity data for risk assessment, strategy and reporting, and share private data. Marie Vandewalle introduced BioAgora’s Science Service for Biodiversity, highlighting how knowledge exchange networks and expert input can respond to policy needs. Examples included work on the Cali Fund benefit-sharing mechanism and joint activities with RESPIN to strengthen the uptake of biodiversity and climate knowledge in business decision-making.
Presenting NetworkNature’s Guide to the Nature-based Solutions (NbS) Finance Landscape, Rodrigo Cassola of UNEP-WCMC outlined how NbS can deliver business benefits through improved cost efficiency, risk mitigation, revenue generation and maintaining a social licence to operate. The guide provides investors, businesses and nature-based enterprises with practical information and tools to understand financing opportunities and increase investment. His recommendations followed three steps: develop an NbS strategy, build capacity, and execute, monitor and reassess. He also referred to targeted use cases, including agriculture, to make this work relevant to particular business contexts.
The subsequent panel discussion reinforced the importance of helping businesses turn knowledge into action. Sverre Lundemo of WWF-Norway highlighted the challenge of making knowledge useful: “It’s how the knowledge is conveyed, how it’s translated, how it’s applied.” Kitt Bell Andersen of Danish Industry stressed that this knowledge needs to reach those making business decisions: “How can we put it into the discussion at the management level? Because if it doesn’t go there, it will not be solved.” Gilles Doignon, Team Leader for Biodiversity and Nature-based Solutions at the European Commission’s DG Research & Innovation, called for active engagement beyond publishing research: “It’s not enough to publish and say, ‘Okay, I have my report, and a politician will understand.’ No, we have to speak up. Through practical tools, financing guidance and dialogue, NetworkNature, BioAgora and Biodiversa+ are helping businesses turn biodiversity knowledge into action."
