G7 Alliance on Nature Positive Economies (G7ANPE)

With the aim of sharing knowledge and building network for nature positive economies, the workshop was organized by Keidanren (Keidanren Committee on Nature Conservation), co-organized by the G7 ANPE. During the workshop, speakers shared case studies on technology, products/services, business models that contribute to nature positive economies. Over the two-day event, more than 560 audiences in total from private companies, governments, research institutions, NPOs/NGOs, and other organizations participated in the workshop from all over the world.

Event date
Day 1: Wednesday, September 27, 2023
Day 2: Thursday, September 28, 2023
 
Modality: Online

• Opening remarks 1: Mr. Shintaro Ito, Minister of the Environment, Japan

He expressed his gratitude for participants, speakers, Keidanren, and the cooperation of G7ANEP. He stated the importance of collaboration among stakeholders to realize nature positive economies and society.

• Opening remarks 2: Mr. Masakazu Kubota, Keidanren Vice Chair and President

He expressed his gratitude to the participants, speakers, and the Ministry of the Environment, and introduced Keidanren's & Keidanren Committee on Nature Conservation’s activities to realize nature positive economies and importance of the role of business.

• Keynote speech 1: Mr. David Craig, Co-Chair, TNFD

He outlined the approach and objectives of TNFD, and emphasized its effectiveness as a tool. Furthermore, the outlook for TNFD was expressed as they continue to commit human resource development, publication of further guidances, and project financing.

• Keynote speech 2: Dr. Karousakis Katia, OECD Team Leader, Biodiversity, Climate, Biodiversity and Water Division

As an introduction, the definition of nature-positive economies and the challenges to achieving it were shared. While corporate activities are center of nature positive economies, support from government is also critical to promote them. The key actions to achieve nature positive economies are giving incentives for biodiversity, developing indicators with data, sharing evidence and lessons learnt, and engaging stakeholders. The importance of promoting dialogue among stakeholders and creating environment for scale-up were also emphasized.

Expert comment: Ms. Nicole Schwab, Co-Head, Nature-Based Solutions, WEF
After introducing the activities of each company and organization, Q&A sessions were held actively with the participants.

(1)  Dr. Masatoshi Funahashi, SynecO

(2)  Mr. Martin Huxtable, Unilever

(3) Ms. Claire VARRET, EDF
She shared EDF's commitment to improve biodiversity and lessons learnt from the materiality assessment of their business operations by EDF. She emphasized the necessity/importance of the third-party verification during the environmental impact assessment.

(4)  Ms. Mika Kaneko, Shimizu Corporation
She shared the environmental vision of the Shimizu Corporation (Beyond Zero 2050) as well as opportunities and challenges for implementing green infrastructure that promotes biodiversity and sustainability. As their case, she introduced the concept of and efforts of UE-Net (Urban Ecological Network Evaluation system), which combines high-resolution satellite images and ecosystem evaluation.

• Expert comment: Ms. Nicole Schwab, Co-Head, Nature-Based Solutions, WEF

She summarized the day 1 case studies. She also explained significant risks for business due to the natural capital ross, as well as the business opportunities of approximately USD 10.1 trillion by transforming economy to be nature positive by 2030. In addition, she introduced 15 transitions for nature positive pathway, identified in three areas: 1) food, land and ocean-use systems, 2) infrastructure and built-environment systems, and 3) energy and extractives systems.

• Welcome remarks: Dr. David Cooper, Acting Executive Secretary, CBD

• He expressed his appreciation to the Japanese business community for their commitment. It was also emphasized that accelerating actions to realize improved biodiversity and nature positivity, with adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework as the first step.

(1)  Dr. Stefanie Eichner, Pfleiderer
She introduced initiative named Ubi supported by German government (knowledge sharing and biodiversity strategy to encourage German companies and business organizations to raise awareness and strengthen their commitment to biodiversity). In addition to providing an overview of Pfleiderer's initiatives to strengthen its supply chain, she also introduced Pfleiderer's efforts to realize a circular economy and the setting of targets for sustainability assessments.

(2)  Ms. Stéphanie Moulé Nguyen Veolia
Veolia conducts business with the aim of ecological transformation, achieving both human progress and environmental protection. She introduced the formulation of environmental strategies for waste treatment, and the approach of environmental analysis that is the core of this strategy. 

(3)  Ms. Claire Lund GSK
She explained the targets for the company's environment and sustainability, in addition to GSK's approach which is to set science-based goals for environment. It was also suggested ways for private companies and governments to collaborate, including providing policy objectives and legal frameworks, creating opportunities to share best practices, and clarifying the role of companies in the development of strategies and plans for biodiversity. 

(4)  Mr. Chris Allen, Jacobs
He introduced PlanBeyond2.0 which is Jacobs' sustainable business approach, and the roadmap for nature positive infrastructure and architecture. Cases of the company's activities were shared, including responding to climate change, protection of biodiversity and natural ecosystems in the development of infrastructure and real estate.

(5)  Dr. Nobuaki Mito, Sumitomo Chemical
He explained that Sumitomo Chemical's green transformation was applied not only to carbon neutrality, but also to the context of solving a wide range of social issues, such as protecting ecosystems and promoting human health. As an example of a nature positive approach was shared. The product using Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) have various effects such as soil improvement and efficient use of soil nutrients that also contribute nature positive.

• Expert Comments:

• Mr. Dominic Waughray, Executive Vice President, WBCSD He summarized the day 2 case studies. WBCSD provides companies with roadmaps and guidance towards nature positive economies, which serves as the basis for actions in various sectors such as food and agriculture systems, energy and forestry.

• Announcement:

• The G7ANPE Secretariat invited non-G7 governments, companies, research institutions, NGOs/NPOs to participate in the G7ANPE Alliance and introduced renewing the website “Business for GBF Project” which was created for dissemination of Japanese companies’ contribution to Nature Positive Economy.

• Closing remarks:

• Ms Katia Da Ros, Vice President for Environment, Sustainability and Culture, Confindustria (B7 Italy) She expressed her gratitude to the participants, speakers, and organizers. She emphasized that every stakeholder including business, civil society, and policy makers was required to take actions toward nature positive economies, and they needed to work together to address the various challenges to realizing nature positive economies.