25 October | 14:00 – 15:00
HOST: WWF, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)
VENUE: Finance Area Booth, Blue Zone – Yerevan, Armenia
DESCRIPTION
WWF and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) will mark an important milestone at COP17 in Yerevan with the formal signing of a Letter of Intent to strengthen collaboration between conservation and development finance. The event will bring together Daudi Sumba, WWF International’s Chief Conservation Officer, and Dr Ajay Bhushan Pandey, AIIB Vice President for Investment Solutions, with Aaron Vermeulen, WWF Global Finance Practice Lead, serving as Master of Ceremonies.
The session will highlight the urgent need to address biodiversity loss, climate change and sustainable development in an integrated manner. It will also explore how nature can be recognized as essential infrastructure underpinning economies, communities, food systems, water security and climate resilience.
Through the Letter of Intent, WWF and AIIB aim to explore practical opportunities to integrate biodiversity considerations and strengthen environmental and social risk management in investments; strengthen nature-positive project pipelines; and mobilize public, philanthropic and private capital. The partnership will draw on WWF’s scientific, conservation and landscape-level expertise and AIIB’s infrastructure, investment and financing capabilities.
Following keynote remarks, the Letter of Intent will be formally signed and photographed. The ceremony will conclude with closing reflections and an informal networking reception for global partners and participants attending COP17.