Events

November 25, 2025 | Past Event
Recognizing the important role of safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all in supporting sustainable economic growth, improving the social welfare of people and enhancing international cooperation and trade among countries, the UN General Assembly decided to declare 26 November as World Sustainable Transport Day.

The Assembly invited stakeholders to mark World Sustainable Transport Day by means of education and the holding of events aimed at enhancing the knowledge of the public on sustainable transport issues, in particular enhancing intermodal transport connectivity, promoting environmentally friendly transportation, developing socially inclusive transport infrastructure and other aspects of transport sustainability.

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October 28, 2025 | Past Event
The NBI Academy is running a 5-week live program on October 28–November 25, 2025. The course is designed for policy-makers, infrastructure planners, investors and other stakeholders involved in Nature-Based Infrastructure (NBI). It focuses on tools to analyze the economic performance and co-benefits of NBI.

The live program combines online materials with interactive Zoom sessions, allowing you to ask experts questions, exchange experiences with other participants from around the world, and dive deeper into the course topics in real-time exercises.

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October 10, 2025 | Past Event
The Enabling Better Infrastructure International Conference will take place on 10 October 2025 in London. This full-day event, hosted by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), aims to bring together policymakers, strategic planning leaders, and international infrastructure experts to share international best practice and first-hand insights on the strategies, policies and approaches they’ve used to create a steady pipeline of sustainable infrastructure projects.

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October 9, 2025 | Past Event
The IUCN World Conservation Congress is where the world comes together to set priorities and drive conservation and sustainable development action.

IUCN’s 1400+ government, civil society and Indigenous peoples’ Member organisations vote on major issues to help guide humanity’s relationship with our planet.

The Congress is also the largest marketplace for conservation and sustainable development science, practice and policy. Scientists, policy experts, business leaders and professionals from around the globe share their experience, innovation and latest research.

IUCN’s unique convening power of state and non-state actors together gives Congress a powerful mandate to set the nature conservation agenda for decades to come.

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Infrastructure events at the I

May 21, 2025 | Past Event
The 2025 International Online Conference will address a broad range of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) topics relevant to banks, corporates, institutional investors, regulators, policy makers and supervisors.

The conference is organised by Professor George Skiadopoulos, Director of IFFR and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). IFFR is a leading international research centre bridging finance and academia. Its experts conduct state-of-the-art research on critical topics for the finance industry, regulators, and policymakers.

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May 11, 2025 | Past Event
The International Conference on Ecology and Transportation (ICOET) is the foremost interdisciplinary, interagency supported conference & training addressing the broad range of ecological issues related to transportation systems in all modes. Experts in transportation development, related scientific study, policy issues, and administrative processes gather at ICOET to share current research, quality applications, and best practices that can enhance both the project development process and the ecological sustainability of all transportation modes.

The ICOET program includes podium presentations, workshops, meetings, posters, field trips, and exhibits on topics of interest to researchers, biologists, engineers, planners, project managers, administrators, and policy makers.

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May 1, 2025 | Past Event
IAIA25 will create a global, comprehensive, and cooperative dialogue on the strategic role of impact assessment and impact assessment practitioners in the coming AI-based society, stimulating IAIA members and others to share their experiences and suggestions for supporting players with innovative and creative approaches and tools.

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See here for a compiled list of events related to infrastructure for COP16 participants seeking knowledge on how to support nature-positive infrastructure

October 29, 2024 | Past Event
This event, organized by the International Institute for Sustainable Development as part of the GEF Pavilion at CBD COP16, will focus on agroforestry as a powerful tool for enhancing biodiversity, improving climate resilience, securing rural livelihoods, safeguarding food and nutrition, and mitigating water scarcity. Panelists from the Nature-Based Infrastructure Global Resource Centre, IFAD, UNIDO, GEF and IFC will discuss how to promote investment in nature-based solutions for resilient food systems.

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October 29, 2024 | Past Event
Transportation infrastructure plays a critical role in connecting people to the services they need, but at a steep cost to nature and climate. It can drive habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and reduced ecological resilience to climate change. Environmental degradation can also put infrastructure itself at risk. Hazards such as erosion, flooding, and landslides due to degraded and poorly managed natural landscapes affect the durability and resilience of transportation infrastructure.

To ensure that the transportation infrastructure of the future is nature positive and enhances both human and ecological resilience to climate change, mainstreaming biodiversity is key and requires concerted action across KMGBF targets. Countries are meeting this challenge head on through an innovative new Global Environment Facility (GEF) initiative—the Greening Transportation Infrastructure Development Integrated Program (GRID IP).

In this session, country representatives and their GRID IP GEF partner agencies—WWF, the Asian Development Bank, and the United Nations Environment Programme—will share case examples of challenges they face and the importance of focusing on the critical upstream measures that can trigger systemic change in how infrastructure is built and natural infrastructure maintained, especially in policy, planning, design, and financing.

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October 24, 2024 | Past Event
Our shared global vision of a healthy planet where people and nature thrive is dependent on the choices we make in designing the very foundation of our economies—our infrastructure. The infrastructure of the past has contributed significantly to the biodiversity degradation we are experiencing today. But with technical ingenuity combined with visionary financial and business models and a deep understanding of how natural systems function, the engineering, finance, and science communities can together reshape the future of infrastructure development.

In this session, leaders in conservation, economic development, finance, business, and government will share their insights and practical examples of how addressing a suite of Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) targets—in combination—is the best way to generate the sustainable infrastructure of our future. The panel will examine the practical advances and complex challenges of mainstreaming biodiversity into this vast sector and engage the audience in a dialogue that draws upon participant questions and shared examples. They will also explore an idea broached by Parties at the last Subsidiary Body on Implementation meeting - to develop a community of practice that can consolidate these streams of action and innovation into accessible capacity building platforms.

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October 22, 2024 | Past Event
The official side event “Ecological Connectivity: A Key to Powering Delivery of the KMGBF”, organized by the Center for Large Landscape Conservation, will take place on Tuesday, 22 October. It will highlight the importance of connectivity in addressing the interrelated challenges of biodiversity loss, climate change, and ecosystem degradation; opportunities for new National Biodiversity and Strategic Action Plans to address connectivity and more effectively meet commitments of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework; and insights and examples to inspire the integration of connectivity conservation science, policy, and best practice across ecosystems.

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October 21, 2024 | Past Event
Countries can transform their infrastructure for a thriving future into a driver of biodiversity gains – not degradation – through coordinated action across the KMGBF targets. This exciting session will explore biodiversity mainstreaming successes and challenges in this highly complex and impactful sector. Participants will explore innovations with practitioners from around the world working on biodiversity-positive infrastructure planning, inclusion, policy, finance, and design to safeguard protected areas, communities, habitats, and connectivity. Discussions will generate participant recommendations on how the conservation community can help countries secure their natural infrastructure and generate a new era in inclusive, nature-positive, and zero-carbon infrastructure development.

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February 10, 2024 | Past Event
The 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals will address a wide range of important conservation priorities and new initiatives, including many that will support the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

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August 22, 2023 | Past Event
Through a deep dive into a country case and interactive discussions, this event will highlight recent innovations and the challenges they address to build biodiversity and ecosystem services into infrastructure planning and development, including through upstream policy and finance enabling conditions; participatory, stakeholder-based planning; comprehensive biodiversity risk and dependencies assessments; and advances in ecosystem-friendly design. Comprehensive application of these and other state-of-the-art approaches will help ensure that the transportation infrastructure of our future emphasizes and produces the biodiversity, avoided land degradation, and climate change mitigation benefits our planet so greatly needs.

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March 24, 2023 | Past Event
This is a UN Water Conference side event highlighting the challenges that come with extensive sand mining and its impact on resilience against climate change and water security. The event will focu son last year’s global report by UNEP, Sand and Sustainability: 10 strategic recommendations to avert a crisis, as well as taking a close look at the Mekong delta, which is at the forefront of the sand mining challenge. WWF will detail initial results from a groundbreaking IKI-funded project in the Mekong delta - including initial results from the first ever first-ever, delta-wide sand budget and research into the impacts of sand mining and share a call to action report with key recommended action items focused on research, practice, and policy.

The panel of speakers will discuss opportunities to adopt relevant policies and standards and promote best practices that are in tune with local sand dependencies and development imperatives. It will also outline how countries and companies can collaborate with UNEP, WWF, and other leaders in the sand mining field to reduce the impact of sand mining and enhance the conservation and sustainable management of wetlands across the globe - boosting biodiversity, resilience, and water security.

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December 15, 2022 | Past Event
According to the G20 Global Infrastructure Outlook, US$97 trillion must be spent by 2040 to meet global infrastructure needs and SDG goals – requiring an annual spending rate 20% greater than we are seeing today. This increase in infrastructure development is vital for many economies but represents a major threat to biodiversity and ecosystems. MDBs have long applied standards and risk management tools to tackle nature-related risks – however, more must be done to properly integrate nature’s value into the economic analyses of projects and increase nature-positive investments. Join us for a lively exploration of effective incentives for infrastructure investment that maximizes social objectives while enhancing biodiversity.

Learn more, check out the full program and watch the recording.

December 15, 2022 | Past Event
Rapid deployment of renewable energy (RE) is critical for the world to meet its rising energy needs and mitigate climate change. The large land and sea footprint projected to meet renewable energy targets – typically 3–12 times that of coal-powered energy generation – can adversely impact people and biodiversity, creating space conflicts that can jeopardize investments and slow RE expansion. Materials needed for RE generation will also create new demands for natural resources. How can we create an RE future that works for biodiversity, climate, and people?

Learn more, check out the full program and watch the recording.

December 15, 2022 | Past Event
Infrastructure plans, such as the Initiative for the Integration of the Regional Infrastructure of South America (IIRSA), have come with multiple socio-economic promises. IIRSA’s design, however, has dismissed the interlinkages between nature, people, and climate change. Is it possible to guarantee nature-positive infrastructure that safeguards people and our planet in the Amazon, an area at risk of an ecological point of no return? How should it be done? Who may participate in these processes? This panel will present three stories that will help us to rethink the future of infrastructure in the Amazon basin, towards a more inclusive and nature-positive approach.

Learn more, check out the full program and watch the recording.

December 15, 2022 | Past Event
Significant infrastructure expansion will be required to meet the world’s sustainable development goals and aspirations during the GBF period - particularly linear infrastructure, such as roads, railways and fences. The impacts of this type of infrastructure on keystone species such as big cats can be extensive, causing or facilitating direct mortality, habitat fragmentation, reduced connectivity, human-wildlife conflict, illegal wildlife trade, and disease transmission. In this session global experts will describe how this script can be flipped. Join this discussion on how effective mitigation measures based on ecology, engineering, and animal behavior science can provide win–win solutions for both humans and wildlife.

Learn more, check out the full program and watch the recording.

December 15, 2022 | Past Event
Asia is home to extraordinary biodiversity, including endangered species such as Bengal tigers and Asian elephants. Yet, rapidly expanding infrastructure development could bisect important habitats and affect access to vital natural resources that people depend upon for their livelihoods.

The USAID-funded ALIGN project was launched at the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15). This initiative will address adverse impacts of linear infrastructure development—such as roads and power lines—in Asia to support people and nature and conserve biodiversity.

Learn more, check out the full program and watch the recording.

December 15, 2022 | Past Event
The world has come together in Montreal for the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to adopt a global agreement for nature. This is our opportunity to reverse nature loss and secure a nature-positive world by 2030. We must ensure it is ambitious and comprehensive enough to change course for a sustainable future for all.

The Infrastructure and Nature Coalition is excited to present a half-day program on Nature-Positive Infrastructure at COP15 on December 15. It will take place in the Nature Positive Pavilion, room 220D, and via livestream.

With its rapid growth, the highly impactful infrastructure sector must play an increasing role in reversing the current trends in climate change and biodiversity loss, delivering net-zero and nature-positive outcomes. This unique event will feature a range of sessions on mainstreaming biodiversity to safeguard people and the planet.

All session take place in Eastern Time (ET) at the Nature Positive Pavilion and via the Nature Positive Youtube channel

0:14:14 – 1:09:35: Asia’s Linear Infrastructure safeGuarding Nature (ALIGN) Project Launch

1:11:33 – 1:38:50: Keynote Speakers from IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, the Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Germany, and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

1:40:32 – 2:29:35: Keeping Big Cat Connectivity Intact in an Infrastructure-Fragmented World

2:32:18 – 3:12:52: Seeking Sustainable Infrastructure in the Amazon

3:35:44: – 4:21:52: Securing the Energy Transformation with Nature-Safe Renewables

4:26:11 – 5:12:48: Nature-Positive Infrastructure Financing: The Role of Multilateral Development Banks

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December 8, 2022 | Past Event
It is time to rethink our infrastructure future and find a path to meet humanity’s needs while helping restore a thriving planet. In a COP15 UN biodiversity conference official side event, we will take a fresh look at the infrastructure sector, which is vital to our economies, and debate how best to achieve a nature-positive future. This transition will require new voices, innovation, policy shifts, and the political will for change. The event will highlight experiences and inspiring stories from community leaders, financiers, planners, engineers, and ecologists from Colombia, Kenya, Nepal, Mongolia, and other countries on addressing this enormous challenge and encouraging a healthy local and global debate.

The event will take place on Thursday, December 8, at 1:15 p.m. ET in the Danube 510A room. Learn more and add the event to your calendar on the COP15 side event webpage.

Moderator: Kate Newman, WWF-US

Keynote: Amy Fraenkel, Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animal

Speakers:

Dr. Han Meng, United Nations Environment Programme

Dr. Maheshwar Dhakal, Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Nepal

Deb Davidson, Center for Large Landscape Conservation

Kamal Gounder, Ministry of Economy, Fiji

Mark Zimsky, Global Environment Facility

Organized by: Infrastructure and Nature Coalition

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May 19, 2022 | Past Event
This series will demonstrate the multiple benefits – financial, economic, social, climate-related – of integrating green measures in infrastructure projects in the sectors of transport, energy, urban development and coastal development. The workshops are non-technical in nature, and designed primarily for government representatives, decision-makers, and stakeholders, in particular those attending the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Conference of Parties (COP15). Join Session 2 where they will showcase the multiple benefits of adopting green solutions in energy project development.

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May 11, 2022 | Past Event
This webinar will wrap up the Sustainable Infrastructure: Putting Principle into Practice series. This session will review and put into context all ten Sustainable Infrastructure Good Practice Principles. The session then focuses on gaining your feedback so that we can understand how to shape the future of this community of practice. Through discussion and breakout sessions we will take suggestions for forming communities of practice and new webinar series.

Speakers: Duke University, UNEP, Conservation International, ICSI

Organized by: Duke University, Green Gray, Sustainable Infrastructure Partnership, Conservation International, Project ECHO, UNEP, ITTECOP, ICSI

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April 13, 2022 | Past Event

This webinar in the Sustainable Infrastructure: Putting Principle into Practice will explore Principle #10: Evidence-Based Decision-Making from UNEP's International Good practice Principles for Sustainable Infrastructure.

In the technical presentation, Savina Carluccio (International Coalition for Sustainable Infrastructure) presents on “Exploring evidence-based decision-making for climate resilient infrastructure systems.” Edgar Westerhof (Arcadis) then delivers a case presentation on “Urban strategies for climate resilience–innovative approaches from New York City and Rotterdam.” As always, the session includes interactive activities such as polling, breakout sessions, and Q&As to allow an exchange with the presenters and your colleagues.

Speakers: Savina Carluccio (International Coalition for Sustainable Infrastructure), and Edgar Westerhof (Arcadis)

Organized by: Duke University, Green Gray, Sustainable Infrastructure Partnership, Conservation International, Project ECHO, UNEP, ITTECOP, ICSI

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March 8, 2022 | Past Event

This webinar in the Sustainable Infrastructure: Putting Principle into Practice will explore Principle #9: Transparent, Inclusive, and Participatory Decision-Making from UNEP's International Good practice Principles for Sustainable Infrastructure.

In the technical presentation, John Hawkins (CoST) speaks on “Multi-stakeholder working and civic engagement.” Ana Maria Sanchez & Jessica Deichmann (Smithsonian Institution) then deliver a case presentation, “Engaging stakeholders in participatory scenario planning in Madre de Dios, Peru.” As always, the session includes interactive activities, such as polling, breakout sessions, and Q&As to allow an exchange with the presenters and colleagues.

Speakers: John Hawkins (CoST), Ana Maria Sanchez (Smithsonian Institution), and Jessica Deichmann (Smithsonian Institution)

Organized by: Duke University, Green Gray, Sustainable Infrastructure Partnership, Conservation International, Project ECHO, UNEP, ITTECOP, ICSI

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January 11, 2022 | Past Event

This webinar in the Sustainable Infrastructure: Putting Principle into Practice will explore Principle #8: Fiscal Sustainability and Innovative Financing from UNEP's International Good practice Principles for Sustainable Infrastructure.

In the technical presentation, Robin Grenfell (Green Investment Group, Macquarie Group) speaks on “FAST-Infra and the Sustainable Infrastructure Label.” Jackson Kiplagat (World Wildfire Fund- Kenya) then delivers a case presentation, “Success of East Africa’s Debut Green Bond Issue: The Case of Acorn Holdings.” As always, the session includes interactive activities, such as polling, breakout sessions, and Q&As to allow an exchange with the presenters and colleagues.

Speakers: Robin Grenfell (Green Investment Group, Macquarie Group) and Jackson Kiplagat (World Wildfire Fund- Kenya)

Organized by: Duke University, Green Gray, Sustainable Infrastructure Partnership, Conservation International, Project ECHO, UNEP, ITTECOP, ICSI

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December 7, 2021 | Past Event
This webinar in the Sustainable Infrastructure: Putting Principle into Practice will explore Principle #6: Equity, Inclusiveness, and Empowerment from UNEP's International Good practice Principles for Sustainable Infrastructure.

In the technical presentation, Motoko Aizawa (Observatory for Sustainable Infrastructure) speaks on “Inclusiveness: A Pathway to Sustainable Infrastructure.” Paramita Datta Dey (National Institute of Urban Affairs, India) then delivers a case presentation on “Affordable and sustainable water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) solutions in India.” As always, the session included interactive activities such as polling, breakout sessions, and Q&As to allow an exchange with the presenters and colleagues.

Speakers: Motoko Aizawa (Observatory for Sustainable Infrastructure) and Paramita Datta Dey (National Institute of Urban Affairs, India)

Organized by: Duke University, Green Gray, Sustainable Infrastructure Partnership, Conservation International, Project ECHO, UNEP, ITTECOP, ICSI

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November 9, 2021 | Past Event
This webinar in the Sustainable Infrastructure: Putting Principle into Practice will explore Principle #5: Resource Efficiency and Circularity from UNEP's International Good practice Principles for Sustainable Infrastructure.

The session will have a special focus on the relationship of resource efficiency and circularity to climate change. In the technical presentation, Heleni Pantelidou (ARUP) introduces PAS2080, a tool for managing (not just measuring) whole life carbon in infrastructure followed by a case presentation by Kevin Hsu (Ministry of National Development of Singapore) on circularity and climate resilience in Singapore green buildings. As always, the session includes interactive activities such as polling, breakout sessions, and Q&As to allow an exchange with the presenters and your colleagues.

Speakers: Heleni Pantelidou (civil/geotechnical engineer and associate director of Arup) and Kevin Fan Hsu (senior assistant director at the Centre for Liveable Cities, a division of the Singapore Ministry of National Development)

Organized by: Duke University, Green Gray, Sustainable Infrastructure Partnership, Conservation International, Project ECHO, UNEP, ITTECOP, ICSI

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October 13, 2021 | Past Event
This webinar in the Sustainable Infrastructure: Putting Principle into Practice will explore Principle #4: Avoiding Environmental Impacts and Investing in Nature from UNEP's International Good practice Principles for Sustainable Infrastructure.

The session will start with an introduction to Principle #4, followed by an introduction to the Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions (NbS), that equips users with greater clarity and precision of what the concept entails and what is required for it to be deployed successfully. The remainder of the session will include the presentation and discussion of a case study to make the business case for investment into a nature-based green-gray infrastructure alternative to highway widening in coastal Colombia. The session will include interactive activities that will allow exchange between case study presenters and participants regarding sustainability challenges and lessons learned.

Speakers: Daisy Hessenberger__ (Nature-based Solutions Group at IUCN) and María Claudia Diazgranados (Blue Carbon Director at Conservation International)

Organized by: Duke University, Green Gray, Sustainable Infrastructure Partnership, Conservation International, Project ECHO, UNEP, ITTECOp, ICSI

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September 13, 2021 | Past Event
Part of the From Infrastructure to Development Corridors Series

The series features presentations by Development Corridors Partnership (DCP) researchers who are exploring how development corridors can ensure sustainable outcomes for all citizens while conserving the unique biodiversity of East Africa, especially through the incorporation of effective social and environmental safeguards.

Speakers: Dr. Catherine Sang (Postdoctoral Scientist, Institute for Climate Change and Adaptation (ICCA), University of Nairobi, Kenya); Prof. Daniel Olago (Director, Institute for Climate Change and Adaptation (ICCA), University of Nairobi, Kenya)

Organized by: UNEP-WCMC, GCRF, UK Research and Innovation, DCP, African Conservation Centre, University of Nairobi, University of Cambridge, University of York

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September 9, 2021 | Past Event
IUCN World Conservation Congress session, Post-2020 Partnership Pavilion

This workshop will provide an insight into the mechanics of the Transport4Nature initiative. It will explain how it works, how companies can propose commitments, how these commitments are reviewed by experts, evaluated according to specific criteria (SMART) and then communicated. Companies such as Eiffage or RTE will talk about the Act4Nature experience (from which Transport4Nature was inspired) and how their actions are monitored.

Organized by: Ministère de la transition écologique et solidaire, IENE, Infrastructure and Nature Coalition

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September 8, 2021 | Past Event
Part of the Sustainable Infrastructure: Putting Principle into Practice Series

This webinar in the Sustainable Infrastructure: Putting Principle into Practice series will explore Principle #3: Comprehensive Lifecycle Assessment of Sustainability from UNEP's International Good Practice Principles for Sustainable Infrastructure.

Organized by: Duke University, Green Gray, Sustainable Infrastructure Partnership, Conservation International, Project ECHO, UNEP, ITTECOP, ICSI

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September 8, 2021 | Past Event
IUCN World Conservation Congress Infrastructure event, Post-2020 Partnership Pavilion

Sand is the world’s most consumed raw material after water and an essential ingredient to our everyday lives. It is central for the construction of roads, bridges, and buildings and is fundamental in the manufacturing of glass and silicon computer chips. Yet the world is facing a growing sand shortage without readily available alternative materials. Construction booms have led to dramatic increases in demand for sand, leading to rising tensions in communities and degraded ecosystems. As the global demand for this resource continues to rise faster than natural sources can sustain, it is crucial to manage it sustainably.

Speakers: Pascal Peduzzi (Director at United Nations Environment Programme GRID-Geneva; Professor at University of Geneva); Antonis Antoniou Latouros (President of the European Aggregates Association); Halinishi Yusuf (Managing Director of the Makueni County Sand Conservation and Utilization Authority in Kenya); Deepthi Wickramasinghe (Professor in Zoology and Environment Sciences at University of Colombo, Sri Lanka); Kate Dawson (ESRC Research Fellow at the London School of Economics and Political Science); Mike M. McMahon (Strategic Partnership Administrator at the Institute for Sustainability and Energy at Northwestern University)

Organized by: WWF, Institute for Sustainability and Energy at Northwestern University, Infrastructure and Nature Coalition, UNEP

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Septebmer 8, 2021 | Past Event
IUCN World Conservation Congress session, Post-2020 Partnership Pavilion

Transport4Nature invites European transport and energy infrastructure companies to make commitments to biodiversity. Launched by IENE and its partners, an alliance of networks of companies, scientists, and environmental associations, has one ambition: to create a sustainable collective European dynamic to protect, enhance and restore biodiversity, thanks to the involvement of transport and energy infrastructure CEOs. For the launch of Transport4nature, major European transport and energy infrastructure construction companies such as Eiffage in France and REN in Portugal will testify to their commitment to biodiversity and encourage European companies to join the drive for sustainable infrastructure.

Organized by: Ministère de la transition écologique et solidaire, IENE, Infrastructure and Nature Coalition

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September 7, 2021 | Past Event
IUCN World Conservation Congress session, Post-2020 Partnership Pavilion

BISON is the first EU-funded H2020 Coordination and Support Action project to focus on transport infrastructure and its interactions with biodiversity. Launched in January 2021 for a period of 30 months, BISON aims to set the future European strategic research and deployment agenda on transport infrastructure and biodiversity.

BISON will provide European states and stakeholder tools and recommendations to integrate biodiversity into the design, construction, and operation of infrastructure.

BISON brings together more than 16 countries and 39 partners across Europe.

BISON will thus enable Europe to be a leading continent in this field.

Organized by: Ministère de la transition écologique et solidaire, IENE, Infrastructure and Nature Coalition

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September 6, 2021 | Past Event
IUCN World Conservation Congress session, Post-2020 Partnership Pavilion

Neglecting to fully consider biodiversity risks in lending and investment decisions for infrastructure exposes financial institutions to material financial risks. While more investors are integrating energy efficiency, GHG emissions, air pollution, and physical climate risks into their portfolios, the disclosure and integration of biodiversity is less prevalent. This session will explore the barriers to identifying, measuring, and managing biodiversity-related financial risks in the infrastructure sector and debate what needs to happen to level the playing field for investors who are serious about sustainable infrastructure.

Speakers: Towfiqua Hoque (Senior Infrastructure Finance Specialist at the Global Infrastructure Facility); Eva Mayerhofer (Senior Environment and Biodiversity Specialist at the European Investment Bank); Didier Lainé (Internal Affairs Advisor at Réseau de Transport d'Électricité); Frédéric Bobay (Project Manager at Fin Infra, Direction générale du Trésor); Michael Ridley (Senior Responsible Investment Specialist at HSBC Global Asset Management (UK) Ltd.); and Raphaëlle Vallet (Senior Manager, Climate Policy and Strategy at Macquarie Capital)

Organized by: Infrastructure and Nature Coalition

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September 6, 2021 | Past Event
IUCN World Conservation Congress Session

Over $90 trillion in infrastructure investment will be required by 2030 to meet basic service needs, mostly in developing economies. However, poorly planned infrastructure development directly impacts communities and biodiversity and can "lock in" unsustainable choices for future generations. This session will identify actions and approaches to minimize risks and capitalize on the opportunity to influence the development of large-scale, networked, economic infrastructure such as transportation and energy systems. It will feature recent innovations in holistic infrastructure planning and development that consider impacts and benefits for people, nature, and economies. Participants will discuss barriers to effective planning, design, and implementation and opportunities for uptake of solutions, exploring synergies across global agreements (2030 Agenda, Post-2020 CBD Framework, and the Paris Agreement). Insights from this session will inform actions to upscale and mainstream innovation.

Organized by: UNEP-WCMC, WWF, IUCN Business and Biodiversity Programme, UNEP Sustainable Infrastructure Partnership, The Development Corridors Partnership, GIZ, and African Conservation Centre

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September 5, 2021 | Past Event
IUCN World Conservation Congress Session

This is the moment. The international community must come together now to grasp the unique opportunity that lies ahead in the next 12 months to catalyze a new wave of nature-positive infrastructure norms and practices. The confluence of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, G20 Quality Infrastructure Investment Principles, and UNFCCC’s nature-based solutions sets the stage for a real sea change. This interactive event will bring together leading representatives of public and private sector institutions working on the future of nature-positive infrastructure to explore the most strategic and efficient options and opportunities for advancing a global path forward.

Speakers: Gilles Kleitz (Director of the Department of Ecological Transitions and Natural Resources, Agence Française de Développement Group); Jennifer Morris (Chief Executive Officer of The Nature Conservancy); Marco Lambertini (Director General of WWF-International); Amy Fraenkel (Executive Secretary of the UN Convention on Migratory Species); Towfiqua Hoque (Senior Infrastructure Finance Specialist at the Global Infrastructure Facility); Eva Mayerhofer (Senior Environment and Biodiversity Specialist at the European Investment Bank)

Organized by: Infrastructure and Nature Coalition

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September 4, 2021 | Past Event
IUCN World Conservation Congress Session

Over the last 30 years, many actors around the world have learned how to avoid or minimize the impacts to ecological connectivity caused by infrastructure – including roads, railways, canals, fences, and energy networks. This session will bring together representatives of government, NGOs, the private sector, and research centres to discuss the importance of mainstreaming biodiversity conservation requirements into infrastructure development that maintain, enhance, and restore ecological connectivity. Participants will learn about existing and innovative practices, hear about experiences and developments around the world, and be inspired to apply the increasing body of global best-practices through their collaborative networks, projects, research initiatives, and legal, policy, and regulatory frameworks.

Speakers: Kate Newman (Vice President, Sustainble Infrastructure and Public Sector Initiatives, WWF); Gary Tabor (Executive Director, Center for Large Landscape Conservation, United States of America); Yannick Autret (Expert recherche transport, énergie et environnement, Ministère de la transition écologique, France); Jodi Hilty (President and Chief Scientist, Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, Canada); Gabriel Oppler (Conservation Associate, Center for Large Landscape Conservation, United States of America); Sandeep Kumar Tiwari (Program Manager, IUCN SSC Asian Elephant Specialist Group, India); Ancuta Fedorca (Researcher, Fundatia Carpati, Romania)

Organized by: Ministère de la transition écologique et solidaire, Center for Large Landscape Conservation

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July 27, 2021 | Past Event
Part of the From Infrastructure to Development Corridors Series

The series features presentations by Development Corridors Partnership (DCP) researchers who are exploring how development corridors can ensure sustainable outcomes for all citizens while conserving the unique biodiversity of East Africa, especially through the incorporation of effective social and environmental safeguards.

Speakers: Dr. Jessica Thorn (Postdoctoral Researcher, University of York, UK); Prof. Rob Marchant (Professor of Tropical Ecosystems, York Institute of Tropical Ecosystems, University of York, UK); Dr. David Obura (Founding Director of CORDIO East Africa); (Programme Coordinator, The Wildlife Foundation); Dr. Caroline A. Ouko (Head Policy and Outreach, CETRAD); Ms. Maureen Mwaringa (Business Liaison, Nairobi-Mombasa SGR Operation)

Organized by: UNEP-WCMC, GCRF, UK Research and Innovation, DCP, African Conservation Centre, University of Nairobi, University of Cambridge, University of York

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July 14, 2021 | Past Event
Part of the Sustainable Infrastructure: Putting Principle into Practice Series

This webinar in the Sustainable Infrastructure: Putting Principle into Practice series will explore Principle #2: Responsive, Resilient, and Flexible Planning from UNEP's International Good Practice Principles for Sustainable Infrastructure.

The session will first provide an introduction to Principle #2, followed by a technical presentation on systems-based tools developed by the United Nations Office for Project Services that help infrastructure planners prioritize infrastructure projects and systems that are responsible, resilient, and flexible from the outset. The remainder of the session will include the exploration of a relevant case study, including interactive activities that will allow exchange between the presenters and participants regarding sustainability challenges and solutions related to real-world infrastructure projects.

Organized by: Duke University, Green Gray, Sustainable Infrastructure Partnership, Conservation International, Project ECHO, UNEP, ITTECOP, ICSI

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July 13, 2021 | Past Event
Part of the Global Sand Crisis Series

The third webinar in the Global Sand Crisis Series will consist of expert panelist discussion and audience Q&A. The conversation will explore questions such as:

• The future of mining river sand: What are considerations, challenges, and solutions from an engineering perspective?
• Shifting to sustainable sand alternatives: Chinese innovations in rock crushing to address sustainability challenges such as high water and energy use, dust pollution, and working conditions.
• Is recycling the answer? Recycled construction materials and community resilience in a post-disaster environment. A look at new cement technologies and a reflection on a sustainable future for non-concrete options.
• Recycling case study: mine tailings—new approaches to recycled aggregates
• Shifting to sustainable cement alternatives: We are concrete addicts, and something needs to change. Can the cement industry reduce its heavy carbon footprint?

Speakers: Kate Dawson, Aaron Packman, Beibei Xu, Terri Norton, Daniel Franks, Laura Powers

Organized by: Northwestern University, WWF

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July 7, 2021 | Past Event
Part of the From Infrastructure to Development Corridors Series

The series features presentations by Development Corridors Partnership (DCP) researchers who are exploring how development corridors can ensure sustainable outcomes for all citizens while conserving the unique biodiversity of East Africa, especially through the incorporation of effective social and environmental safeguards.

Speakers: Dr. Gediminas Lesutis (Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Cambridge, UK); Dr. Chris Sandbrook (Senior Lecturer and Director of MPhil in Conservation Leadership, University of Cambridge, UK); Akshay Vishwanath (Maliasili & Friends of Nairobi National Park); Sarah Chiles (Landscape Infrastructure Advisor, Ewaso Lions & Grevy's Zebra Trust)

Organized by: UNEP-WCMC, GCRF, UK Research and Innovation, DCP, African Conservation Centre, University of Nairobi, University of Cambridge, University of York

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June 22, 2021 | Past Event
Part of the Global Sand Crisis Series

The second webinar in the Global Sand Crisis Series will consist of expert panelist discussion and audience Q&A. The conversation will explore questions such as:

• Sustainability and sand: Can sand mining be environmentally and socially responsible? Are there better alternatives on the horizon?
• Sand-smart practices and industry norms: What are barriers and opportunities for technologies and better practices that can make the construction industry's use of sand more efficient?
• Current trends: What are the pros/cons and the potential for scaling technological advances in alternative practices such as recycled debris and crushed rock?
• Governance systems and accountability: What is the status of existing policies, regulations, and standards? And their limitations? Where does government responsibility to enable business in the fight against sand over-extraction begin and end?

Speakers: Aurora Torres, Mark Simoni, Carlos Santamaria, Todd Bridges, Kate Dawson

Organized by: Northwestern University, WWF

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June 9, 2021 | Past Event
Part of the Sustainable Infrastructure: Putting Principle into Practice Series

This webinar will focus on Strategic Planning and Sustainable Infrastructure Development, the first Good Practice Principle from UNEP’s newly released International Good Practice Principles for Sustainable Infrastructure.

The session will first provide an introduction to strategic planning (Principle #1), followed by a technical presentation on strategic environmental assessments. The remainder of the session will include presentations of two case studies given by practitioners engaged in strategic planning for infrastructure at the national and sector (hydropower) levels. Case presentations will include interactive activities that will allow exchange between case study presenters and participants regarding sustainability challenges and lessons learned from the cases.

Organized by: Duke University, Green Gray, Sustainable Infrastructure Partnership, Conservation International, Project ECHO, UNEP, ITTECOP, ICSI

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May 26, 2021 | Past Event
Part of the Global Sand Crisis Series

The first webinar in the Global Sand Crisis Series features a keynote address by Vince Beiser, renowned journalist and author of The World in a Grain, among our other esteemed speakers. The conversation will set the stage, exploring questions such as:

• What is so special about sand as a building material, and why are we on the verge of a global crisis?
• How much sand is needed for the growing infrastructure boom? Where will it come from?
• How can we ensure responsible consumption and meet growing demand worldwide?
• How does sand mining and sand use in construction impact society, economies, conflict and corruption, human and ecosystem health, resilience, and climate change?
• How did we get here? What sorts of global policy, business, and technical solutions currently exist, and what are their limitations?

Speakers: Vince Beiser, Pascal Peduzzi, Kusum Athukorala, Cary Shepherd, Gary Greenberg

Organized by: Northwestern University, WWF

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May 12, 2021 | Past Event
Part of the Sustainable Infrastructure: Putting Principle into Practice Series

This first webinar in the Sustainable Infrastructure: Putting Principle into Practice series will include an introduction to UNEP's 10 good practice principles for sustainable infrastructure and interactive discussion of the case study approach that we will be using throughout the webinars.

Organized by: Duke University, Green Gray, Sustainable Infrastructure Partnership, Conservation International, Project ECHO, UNEP, ITTECOP, ICSI

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December 9, 2020 | Past Event
Part of the Infrastructure and Nature Webinar Series

Session 6 of the Infrastructure and Nature Webinar Series centered on the barriers and opportunities assessed throughout the webinars, which began with the context of COVID-19 and multiple-crisis management and continued through deeper discussions of the policy and enabling environment “upstream”; managing biodiversity-related financial risks; green/grey hybrid and nature-based solutions; and finally, maintaining ecological connectivity in linear infrastructure development.

Speakers: Cyriaque Sendashonga, Roberto Mezzalama,Gwenaëlle Hello, Esther An, Graham Watkins, Jonelle Simunich, Norbert Gorißen, Oliver Hillel, Terzah Tippin Poe

Organized by: Infrastructure and Nature Coalition

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November 18, 2020 | Past Event
Part of the Infrastructure and Nature Webinar Series

Session 5 of the Infrastructure and Nature Webinar Series attention to the urgent actions that are necessary and the existing solutions that are available to balance environmental conservation with the unprecedented rate of current and planned development of linear infrastructure, especially in areas of high biodiversity. The webinar highlighted diverse perspectives of the issues, threats, and opportunities for applying the practice of connectivity conservation to avoid and mitigate the impacts of linear infrastructure on ecological connectivity, the movement of species, and the flow of natural processes.

Speakers: Kate Newman, Rob Ament, Wendy Elliot, Andreas Seiler, Tobias Nyumba, Karma Yangzom, Tamara Látková, Milan Psotný

Organized by: Infrastructure and Nature Coalition

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November 4, 2020 | Past Event
Part of the Infrastructure and Nature Webinar Series

Session 4 of the Infrastructure and Nature Webinar Series advanced the discussion on opportunities to apply nature-based solutions (NBS) as alternatives or additions to human-made infrastructure. Speakers explored the business case through NBS experiences at all levels, from planning to implementation, highlighting the latest examples of how engineers are building with nature for increased benefits for people, resilience, and biodiversity.

Speakers: Lynn Scarlett, Kate Newman, Richard T.T. Forman, Todd S. Bridges, Cris Liban, Mark Way, Jon Philipsborn, Meg Goecker, Richard Bugan

Organized by: Infrastructure and Nature Coalition

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October 29, 2020 | Past Event
Part of the Infrastructure and Nature Webinar Series

Session 3 of the Infrastructure and Nature Webinar Series explored practical ways forward on how to identify, measure and manage biodiversity-related financial risks in the infrastructure sector.

Speakers: Kate Newman, Nigel Beck, Nick Butcher, Eva Mayerhofer, Christian Wertli, Helena Wright, Eric Usher

Organized by: Infrastructure and Nature Coalition

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October 15, 2020 | Past Event
Part of the Infrastructure and Nature Webinar Series

Session 2 of the Infrastructure and Nature Webinar Series discussed success factors and limitations of existing planning tools and practices from the public and private sector that are helping governments create land-use plans and infrastructure development portfolios that better balance trade-offs in climate risk management, biodiversity conservation, and equitable economic development.

Speakers: Francis Ogwal, Ivan Delgado, Vladimir Naranjo, Asha Singhal, Richard Weller, Pasquale Capizzi, Basile van Havre, Ryan Bartlett

Organized by: Infrastructure and Nature Coalition

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October 1, 2020 | Past Event
Part of the Infrastructure and Nature Webinar Series

Session 1 of the Infrastructure and Nature Webinar Series set the scene for five future deeper dive discussions through an introduction to the topic and the overall status quo in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic crisis and on-going crises in climate change and biodiversity loss.

Speakers: Amy Fraenkel, Anne Burrill, Franco Piza, Jean-François Lesigne, Lisa Garnier, Yannick Autret, Amar Bhattacharya

Organized by: Infrastructure and Nature Coalition

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