This briefing provides an overview of the interlinkages between the financial sector, nature and Indigenous Peoples. It summarizes UNEP FI’s views of the outcomes and recommendations of sessions on these themes within the Finance & Biodiversity Pavilion at CBD COP16 in Cali, and is prepared for use by UNEP FI members and others in the financial system engaged in nature-related activities willing to reorient their approach and learn more on engaging with Indigenous Peoples, Afro-Descendent Peoples and local communities. A major outcome of COP16 was the enhanced representation of Indigenous Peoples and traditional knowledge and the formation of a permanent subsidiary group for Indigenous Peoples, recognising the work on Indigenous knowledge, innovations and practices as part of the long-standing Working Group on Article 8j within the Convention on Biological Diversity. COP16 highlighted the importance of strengthening the collaboration and just partnerships between the financial sector and Indigenous Peoples and local communities in orders to reach the goal of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF) to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030.
This concept note aims to promote learning to the financial sector on Indigenous Peoples, Afro-Descendant Peoples and local communities in the interest of building an equitable and sustainable future. It focuses on topics relevant to finance such as Indigenous rights and leadership, Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) and safeguards, and moving towards “just partnerships”.
