As the global demand for climate and biodiversity solutions grows, accelerating finance for Nature-based Solutions (NbS) has never been more critical. At the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025, NetworkNature convened experts and practitioners to chart pathways towards stronger, scalable NbS investment. Over 80 participants from across the globe joined the NetworkNature session to explore how to accelerate financing for Nature-based Solutions (NbS).
The session began with a welcome and introduction by the project’s coordinator Daniela Rizzi (ICLEI Europe), who briefly presented NetworkNature, followed by Joanna Wolstenholme (UNEP-WCMC), the leading partner for financing within NetworkNature, who set the scene by framing the global landscape for NbS finance. Anke Salzmann (Fundação Boticário) and Rachael Barza (EBRD) showcased innovative financing models and shared perspectives from their organisations on how to strengthen financial pathways for NbS.
Fundação Boticário presented inspiring examples from Brazil, including the Nature Solutions Programme and Chamada Resiliência Climática, both supporting projects and businesses that apply NbS as a central strategy to enhance the resilience of cities and ecosystems. The initiatives demonstrate how local partnerships and targeted funding can advance water security, coastal and marine resilience, and urban adaptation.
The EBRD illustrated how financial institutions can scale up investment in nature across their regions of operation through its Approach to Nature. Examples included wastewater treatment projects in Podujeva, Kosovo, and flood management in Chisinau, Moldova, both showcasing how NbS can deliver multiple benefits such as pollution prevention, resilience to climate impacts and improved urban environments.
The session concluded with an engaging interactive exchange with participants, highlighting the need for stronger collaboration among policy, finance and practice communities to bridge the investment gap for NbS.
During the event, we launched NetworkNature’s new flagship resource, A Guide to the Nature-based Solutions (NbS) Finance Landscape in Europe. This publication, spearheaded by UNEP-WCMC, provides a comprehensive overview of current financing models for NbS, highlighting public, private and blended approaches. It outlines existing gaps and opportunities, presents the business case for investing in nature and offers recommendations for businesses, nature-based enterprises and financial institutions on how to scale investment in NbS and support the transition toward a nature-positive economy.
Thank you to everyone who joined and contributed to the discussion. Your insights and enthusiasm continue to drive the global effort to mobilise finance for nature.
Read the Guide to NbS Finance Landscape in Europe.
