Coalition of international and Japanese organizations announce second Global Nature Positive Summit, to take place in Kumamoto City, Japan in July 2026

Geneva/Tokyo, 22 September 2025 – – A group of leading international and Japanese organizations have announced today that the second Global Nature Positive Summit is to be hosted in the city of Kumamoto, Japan, on 14-15 July 2026 under the patronage of the Japanese Ministry of Environment. The Summit will take place in Kumamoto Castle Hall convention centre, with an additional day on 16 July for an excursion highlighting the unique natural environment of Kumamoto.

The Nature Positive Summit will focus on accelerating efforts to implement the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), which was agreed by 196 countries in 2022 with a commitment to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030. As governments will be meeting in October 2026 in Yerevan, Armenia, at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity’s COP17 to review progress on their landmark agreement, the Nature Positive Summit aims at showcasing nature-positive strategies and outcomes with a particular focus on the contributions of the private sector and local governments to the GBF and its Nature Positive mission. As a stepping stone, countries will also be gathering in Mongolia in August 2026 for the UN Convention to Combat Desertification’s COP17, where efforts to reverse land degradation will be under the spotlight.

The Summit was announced by the Nature Positive Initiative, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Japan Committee, and ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability Japan, with the support of the Government of Japan, Kumamoto City, the Nature Conservation Society of Japan (NACS-J), Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), IUCN International, ICLEI International and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), with Nikkei Business Publications engaged as the summit manager.

The second Nature Positive Summit in Kumamoto will build on the success of the inaugural Global Nature Positive Summit in Sydney, Australia in October 2024.

The evidence has never been greater regarding the profound impact that the continuous destruction of nature is having on our economy and wellbeing – as well as the existential role natural ecosystems play for our climate, water and food security.

There is a growing trend across Japanese companies, communities, consumers and society to engage and take action for nature. Kumamoto Prefecture, where the second Global Nature Positive Summit will take place, is abundant in wild nature. Its landscape encompasses mountainous regions with volcanoes, thick volcanic deposits and hot springs, and coastal areas featuring wetlands registered under the Ramsar Convention. Local communities have maintained extensive secondary grasslands for centuries, allowing abundant rainfall to nourish groundwater and infiltrate the aquifers that serve urban communities across Kumamoto. Its rivers sustain paddy fields, farmland and biomass production.

The majority of negative impacts on nature are coming from our production and consumption model. Companies and financial institutions are therefore pivotal to achieving a nature-positive future, by transitioning from nature-negative to nature-positive practices including measurement and disclosure. In parallel, national and sub-national governments play a crucial role in providing the vision, incentive mechanisms and frameworks for cooperation among various stakeholders to support this transition and achieve genuine nature-positive outcomes.

A website and programme will be launched soon. The Summit’s overarching theme will be on how to support a nature-positive transition in our economies, for the resilience and lasting security of our society and for generations to come.

In preparing the Summit in Japan, a wide range of national experts and leaders have been deeply engaged, including Makoto Haraguchi (TNFD Taskforce Member / MS&AD), Norio Hida (TNFD Taskforce Member/ the Norinchukin Bank), Hirotaka Hideshima (former TNFD Taskforce Member/ Dai-ichi Life), Kaori Fujita (Tohoku University / Nikkei ESG), Naoki Adachi (Japan Business Initiative for Biodiversity), Tetsu Hattori, Togo Uchida (ICLEI Japan), with Teppei Dohke (IUCN National Committee Japan) serving as the coordinator of Japan’s preparations.

*

Media contacts:

• Nature Positive Initiative – Gemma Parkes, Head of Communications, gparkes@naturepositive.org, +41 79 253 6386
• IUCN Japan Committee – press@iucn.jp

Notes:

• For sponsorship opportunities, contact Nikkei Business Publications:
  gnps2026-glb@nikkeibp.co.jp
• Read this press release in Japanese.
• For more information, see Nature Positive Initiative website: naturepositive.org/events/summit
• Follow Nature Positive Initiative on LinkedIn, BlueSky and X
• Photo credit: Kumamoto Prefectural Tourism Federation

*

Quotes from Summit partners and supporters

*

Quote from Marco Lambertini, Convener, Nature Positive Initiative:
“Our globally agreed deadline to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030 is fast approaching and the message is once again that we are behind. But, by bringing innovative examples from around the world, the Summit will demonstrate that we can and we know how to embrace nature-positive practices in the way we run our business and finances, and in how we govern our cities, territories and countries. On behalf of the Nature Positive Initiative, I am grateful and excited that the second Nature Positive Summit will be hosted in Japan, a country with an ancient deep connection with the natural world. The message of the Summit will be one of action, possibility, urgency and excitement on the journey to build a Nature Positive future, in harmony with nature, safer and more equitable for all of us, for the world’s children and generations to come”.

Quote from Kazufumi Onishi, Mayor of Kumamoto City:
“It is an honour for Kumamoto City to host the Global Nature Positive Summit 2026, and on behalf of our city, I warmly welcome everyone visiting from around the world. Recognized as the world’s leading groundwater city, Kumamoto supplies tap water for 740,000 citizens entirely from groundwater preserved through the tireless efforts of our ancestors. By hosting this summit in a city as abundant in water resources as ours, I am confident in our contribution to the realization of Nature Positive through the sharing of experiences, knowledge, and initiatives for extensive groundwater conservation and biodiversity with all affiliated organizations.”

Quote from Masaru Horikami, Director General, Nature Conservation Bureau, Ministry of the Environment, Japan:
“It is with great pleasure that I welcome the convening of the Global Nature Positive Summit in Kumamoto, Japan. Toward nature positive, a growing number of Japanese companies are engaging in information disclosures aligned with the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures. The Ministry of the Environment in Japan is actively supporting these efforts. We believe it is important to advance the transition towards a nature-positive economy. It is meaningful that this Summit is being held in Kumamoto, where public-private partnerships are promoting a landscape approach that utilizes and conserves water resources. We hope that by sharing Japan’s pioneering conservation efforts in the Asia-Monsoon region, this Summit will accelerate nature-positive action.”

Quote from Tetsuya Iguchi, President and CEO, Nikkei Business Publications:
“I believe there is profound significance in convening the Global Nature Positive Summit in Kumamoto. As a city that has grappled with natural disasters, Kumamoto stands as a powerful symbol of the relationship between nature and human society. To broadcast our message to the world from this place carries special meaning. Nikkei Business Publications has long published leading media both B2B and B2C on themes such as corporate management and ESG as well as technology across a wide span of industries from manufacturing, IT, construction and medicine. It is precisely because of this breadth and depth of expertise that we are proud to support the summit, and we are deeply grateful for the opportunity to contribute. This summit is not a finish line; it is a new point of departure. Building on the discussions that will develop during the summit, we aim to broaden collaboration across industries, regions, and communities, and to translate our shared intent into practical, effective action.”

Quote from Grethel Aguilar, Director General of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN):
“The Global Nature Positive Summit is a vital platform for accelerating real action for nature. Building on the success of the inaugural Summit in Sydney, the 2026 edition in Kumamoto comes at a critical moment for nature and people. This is a valuable opportunity to accelerate action for a nature-positive future as we continue to work closely together with businesses, financial institutions, civil society, governments and other actors to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. IUCN warmly welcomes this momentum and is proud of the important role played by the IUCN National Committee and our Japanese Members in helping to make this Summit a reality, as we continue to build bridges among sectors and diverse voices to deliver a truly nature-positive future.”

Quote from Kobie Brand, Deputy Secretary General, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, and Global Director, ICLEI CIties Biodiversity Center:
“As the world prepares for the upcoming global stocktake on biodiversity at CBD COP17 in 2026, one truth is undeniable: success in meeting global biodiversity targets will hinge on bold action at the subnational level. Cities, municipalities and local territories are already at the forefront, pioneering innovative solutions that chart a path toward nature-positive development and a future for our growing urban community which enable us to live in harmony with nature and within our planetary boundaries. ICLEI, through partnership initiatives like CitiesWithNature, stands firmly with these local leaders, committed to accelerating such actions to both halt and reverse nature loss and simultaneously build thriving and resilient communities living with nature. As a proud member of the Nature Positive Initiative’s Core Stewardship Group, we are delighted to be part of the upcoming Nature Positive Summit – a defining milestone towards a nature-positive world by 2030.”

Quote from Tony Goldner, CEO, Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD):
“TNFD is delighted to see the Nature Positive Summit torch being passed from Australia to Japan. Japan has become the leading market in the world for TNFD adoption at a critical moment in the race to halt and reverse nature loss globally. This will be an important opportunity to advance practical global collaboration across business, finance, civil society and government.”

Quote from Toshiyuki Tsuchiya, Chair of the Board of Directors, Nature Conservation Society of Japan:
“As Japan’s leading nature conservation organization, the Nature Conservation Society of Japan welcomes the Second Global Nature Positive Summit in Kumamoto. Building on decades of grassroots activism and citizen science, we work to realize a society that enriches nature through collaboration among communities, businesses and governments. In May 2023, NACS-J announced the necessity of establishing the Japan Nature Positive Approach, grounded in local communities. To this end, we are building partnerships with local governments and businesses, as well as developing quantitative assessments of biodiversity. This Summit will be a key opportunity to share Japan’s experiences and accelerate global action.”

Quote from Dominic Waughray, Executive Vice President, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD):
“The Global Nature Positive Summit 2026 comes at a critical juncture – just months ahead of CBD COP17, where the world will take stock of progress on the Global Biodiversity Framework. In a challenging geopolitical climate, it is more important than ever for influential non-state actors to step up. At WBCSD, we welcome this Summit as a vital platform to accelerate implementation by both business and governments. We remain committed to demonstrating tangible progress and leadership on nature – because restoring ecosystems and reversing nature loss is not only essential for planetary health, but also for long-term business resilience and prosperity.”

*

About the Nature Positive Initiative

The Nature Positive Initiative gathers some of the world’s largest sustainable business and finance coalitions; standards, disclosure and targets frameworks; global conservation organizations; and science, subnational governance and Indigenous knowledge networks, to drive alignment around use of the term ‘nature positive’ and support broader, longer-term efforts to deliver nature-positive outcomes. The Nature Positive Initiative is reinforced by the Nature Positive Forum, a group of more than 300 organizations and institutions that have committed to uphold the definition of Nature Positive by 2030 and pursue action to secure a nature positive world. Those interested in joining can apply to the Forum here – or subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated.