The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has issued guidance to assist investors, financiers, companies, and governments in identifying investments that protect and rehabilitate biodiversity and ecosystems. The Biodiversity Finance Reference Guide is the first market framework for biodiversity finance that aims to support activities that conserve and restore biodiversity and ecosystem services. The IFC said the guide addresses a gap in eligible product criteria through the provision of an indicative list of investment projects, activities, and components that help protect, maintain, or enhance biodiversity and ecosystem services, as well as promoting sustainable management of natural resources. It advocates addressing certain infrastructure needs with nature-based rather than manmade solutions, such as constructing mangroves, wetlands, green roofs, and raingardens, offering a cost-effective way of building resilience and adapting to the physical impacts of climate change, contributing also toward emissions reductions to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. IFC Managing Director Makhtar Diop said: “Protecting and restoring biodiversity and ecosystems is critical to ensuring sustainable economic growth. It is also a key component of our response to climate change mitigation, resilience, and adaptation. This guide is a compass for businesses and investors seeking to align their activities with the goals of sustainable growth and a healthy planet.”
Action-driven roundtable discussion on mobilizing more climate capital for emerging and developing markets. We discussed concrete approaches for public/private collaboration for unlocking financing at scale and the importance of blended finance. pic.twitter.com/KW3Rwk4zBN
— Makhtar Diop (@Diop_IFC) November 8, 2022
