Biodiversity and Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) have taken center stage in recent climate discussions. In 2022, the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15) marked a turning point with the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework — a milestone agreement aimed at halting and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030.
More recently, the 2023 UN Climate Conference (COP28) in Dubai reaffirmed global support for nature-based climate action, announcing $186.6 million in new funding for forests, mangroves, and ocean protection. These pledges are aligned with the commitments made at the World Climate Action Summit (WCAS), also held during COP28, which confirmed $2.5 billion mobilized for nature conservation and restoration. Over 150 companies and financial institutions also joined global efforts, stating their intention to scale up investments in NbS. Still, questions remain as to how these pledges will be implemented and how the resources will be allocated to deliver real impact.
These developments reflect a growing, cross-sector understanding of the intrinsic link between the climate crisis and biodiversity loss. This greater awareness — backed by science — is helping shift paradigms and gradually transform the way both governments and businesses approach biodiversity protection. Target 15 of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which calls on businesses to take meaningful action on biodiversity — focusing not only on carbon reduction but also on the preservation and restoration of ecosystems — is a prime example of this shift.
This growing awareness and resource mobilization — both public and private — has gone hand in hand with new institutions and frameworks emerging at the regional level to address climate change and biodiversity loss. This progress reflects a more adaptive approach: one that recognizes the need for companies to go beyond reducing carbon footprints or curbing pollution and to incorporate biodiversity and ecosystem services into their corporate strategies.
Along these lines, Nature-Based Solutions are increasingly being integrated into countries’ climate adaptation and mitigation plans. According to ClimateWatch, 57 countries now include NbS in their nationally determined contributions under the Paris Agreement. Businesses are following suit — not only as a responsible reply to the climate crisis but also as an investment in the long-term resilience of their operations and the communities they serve.
In Chile, the Ministry of the Environment and Acción Empresas recently launched the Plan de Acción Empresarial en Biodiversidad — a joint initiative aimed at developing a collaborative framework between the public and private sectors to promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. In essence, the plan serves as a compass for Chilean businesses, helping guide their contributions toward the goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
