Nature Positive Initiative events at UN CBD COP17: Driving accountability through measurement

As global government and business leaders, conservationists and decision-makers gather in Yerevan, Armenia, for UN CBD COP17, the Nature Positive Initiative is driving bold action to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. Arriving hot on the heels of the 13 October release of the landmark State of Nature Indicators and Metrics Framework, the Initiative will highlight a crucial message: robust, standardized measurement is central to achieving a nature-positive world.

Throughout COP17, the Initiative is leveraging this momentum to convene partners across government, finance, standards bodies, business and civil society – demonstrating how data-driven accountability turns high-level policy into tangible ecological recovery.

Official UN CBD side events

Bridging Business Action and National Policy

A cornerstone of the Nature Positive Initiative’s presence in Yerevan is the co-organized official UN CBD side event, taking place on Friday, October 23 from 13:15 local time in the Ljevan – GRULAC meeting room.

Scaling up business action for biodiversity

This event is co-organized by ISO, the Governments of Japan, France, Peru and the Netherlands, TNFD, WBCSD, Business for Nature and IUCN.

Aligning market tools, consensus-based metrics and policy frameworks to implement Target 15 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), this session explores practical pathways to eliminate fragmentation across nature tools, support National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), and treat nature transitions as strategic investments rather than corporate costs.

Events in the Nature Positive Pavilion

This year, the Nature Positive Initiative is hosting a large pavilion within the blue zone, platforming the voices of a wide range of partners. The Nature Positive Pavilion is a place where diverse voices can come together to discuss and drive forward action for nature in line with the goals and targets set in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Central to our programming at the Pavilion is embedding the newly released State of Nature Indicators and Metrics Framework across sectors:

Framework Launch & Discussion: Two dedicated sessions (Thu Oct 22 & Mon Oct 26) will detail the consensus indicators, feature insights from early adopters, and lay out actionable steps for the broader nature community.
Technical Clinics & Practitioner Workshops: Targeted small-group clinics on Fri Oct 23, Mon Oct 26, and Wed Oct 28 will provide hands-on guidance for developers, consultancies, framework owners and field practitioners looking to integrate the metrics into software, tools and local reporting.
Data, Interoperability and a nature-positive economy: A specialized panel on Sun Oct 25 bring together data infrastructure organizations and corporate reporting bodies (including TNFD and SBTN) to address measurement gaps and cross-framework interoperability. The will then focus turn to the economy on Mon Oct 26 when we look at the role of finance and insurance and the relevance of metrics to achieving an economy aligned with a nature-positive future.
Lastly, don’t miss our reception on What’s Next for the Nature Positive Agenda? (evening of Sun Oct 25) A high-level gathering with leadership from IUCN, TNFD, ISO, Business for Nature and Conservation International outlining key milestones on the path to 2030.

All events organized by the Nature Positive Initiative

Opening Reception of the Nature Positive Pavilion

Main Room | Tuesday 20 Oct 2026 | 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Final Consensus State of Nature Indicators & Metrics ready for use

Main Room | Thursday 22 Oct 2026 | 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm

This session will present the newly launched consensus State of Nature Indicators and Metrics Framework.

NB: This session will occur twice during the COP, the second time on 26 October

(Screening and reception) Becoming Nature Positive

Main Room | Thursday 22 Oct 2026 | 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm

Screening of the short film, ‘Becoming Nature Positive’, followed by audience interaction and discussion – touching on why storytelling is still not achieving the radical transformations that are so needed across the economy and society at large. The evening will close with a networking reception.

The role of data and technology in facilitating state of nature metrics

Main Room | Friday 23 Oct 2026 | 10:30 am – 11:30 am

This panel brings together leading biodiversity data and infrastructure organizations to explore how we can consistently measure the State of Nature (SoN) across key descriptors, where current data and measurement gaps remain, and how existing tools and datasets can better align.

How can tools and service providers embed State of Nature metrics

Small Room | Friday 23 Oct 2026 | 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm

An invite-only clinic for nature framework and standard owners, data and tools developers and consultancies to dive deeper into the technical detail of the State of Nature Indicators and Metrics Framework and Initial Measurement Guidance.

Applying Consensus State of Nature Metrics in Oceans

Main Room | Saturday 24 Oct 2026 | 10:30 am – 11:30 am

The session will present the consensus State of Nature Indicators and Metrics as applied in the marine environment, moving from technical alignment to what the final metrics mean for practical implementation.

Nature measurement speed dating: Company case studies

Main Room | Sunday 25 Oct 2026 | 10:30 am – 11:30 am

This will be a high-energy session introducing attendees to projects from around the world that have applied the State of Nature Indicators and Metrics. A series of quick-fire case studies will be followed by an opportunity for the audience to ask questions directly to their peers on their measurement approaches and learnings from the process.

The Interoperability of Standards, Measurement and Guidance Frameworks for Nature Positive Outcomes

Main Room | Sunday 25 Oct 2026 | 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm

This session will feature leading corporate reporting frameworks and standards sharing insights on how the State of Nature Indicators and Metrics are being embedded in their approaches, demonstrating the critical need for interoperability across the nature measurement space.

(Reception) What’s next for the Nature Positive agenda?

Main Room | Sunday 25 Oct 2026 | 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm

This high-level event’s objective is to hear from some of the leaders of organizations part of the Nature Positive galaxy about the most exciting and transformative upcoming initiatives that will shape the global nature-positive agenda in moving towards the crucial 2030 milestone. Among the speakers we will have IUCN, TNFD, ISO, Business for Nature and Conservation International, to name a few.

Final Consensus State of Nature Indicators & Metrics ready for use

Main Room | Monday 26 Oct 2026 | 10:30 am – 11:30 am

This session will present the newly launched consensus-driven State of Nature Indicators and Metrics Framework.

NB: This session will occur twice during the COP, the first time on 22 October

State of Nature Metrics; Getting started on your nature-positive journey

Small Room | Monday 26 Oct 2026 | 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm

This will be a small-group session for nature practitioners looking to measure the State of Nature Indicators and Metrics. Participants will receive an introduction to the guidance and key practical learnings from the metric Piloting Programme, including advice on how to get started with measurement.

NB: Please note that this session will require pre-registration.

Towards a Nature Positive economy: the role of finance and insurance

Main Room | Monday 26 Oct 2026 | 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm

Operationalizing Targets 14 and 19 of the Global Biodiversity Framework requires moving from high-level commitments to concrete transitions. This session examines the business case for finance and insurance to adopt the nature-positive ambition and what changes are required to turn it into reality.

How can tools and service providers embed State of Nature metrics

Small Room | Wednesday 28 Oct 2026 | 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Closing Reception

Main Room | Thursday 29 Oct 2026 | 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm

Closing reception of the Nature Positive Pavilion, celebrating two weeks of intensive, interesting discussions animated by dozens of sessions from 25 partners.

See the full schedule of events at the Nature Positive Pavilion

Involvement in other events

Representatives from the Nature Positive Initiative will also be taking part in various other events occurring across the CBD’s COP17. These include the following:

Marco Lambertini will be participating on the panel “From Nature Risk to Corporate Strategy” as part of the CBD’s Business and Biodiversity Forum on 25 October, exploring how companies are translating insights generated through disclosure frameworks, risk assessments and other biodiversity-related tools into corporate strategy, governance, investment decisions and operational change.

The Nature Positive Initiative will also be represented on various other events, including:

Insurance Taking Action for Nature: Advancing Risk Evidence, Finance and Mainstreaming for Nature

Nature Positive Pavilion Main Room | Fri Oct 23 | 0900-1000

This session will examine how insurance data and risk modelling can provide evidence of the consequences of nature loss and the risk-reduction value of healthy ecosystems, and how underwriting, investment, risk advisory and risk-financing products can protect ecosystems

ISSB Nature Practice Statement: Business and Finance Roundtable

Nature Positive Pavilion Main Room | Sun Oct 25 | 1000-1055

Business and finance leaders can hear directly from the ISSB about the proposed IFRS Practice Statement on nature-related disclosures, ask questions and provide feedback in this roundtable, facilitated by EY.

Measuring What Matters: Towards a Nature-Positive and Human-Positive Future

Nature Positive Pavilion Main Room | Wed Oct 28 | 1630-1730

Through a series of conversations, speakers will debate whether nature-positive outcomes require changes in human values, whether governments manage only what they measure, and whether a country’s development success should be judged in part by the quality of its relationship with nature.