Biodiversity and Carbon Credits: What Conditions for a Robust Financing Solution?

Biodiversity and Carbon Credits: What Conditions for a Robust Financing Solution?
A workshop organized by the Institute for Sustainable Finance and hosted by Virginie Wauquiez.

Sylvie Goulard (International Advisory Panel on Biodiversity Credits) reminds us that biodiversity is a complex yet exhilarating subject, as everyone experiences nature firsthand. The key issue is the financing of concrete, local, and measurable projects. While awaiting the deployment of a regulatory framework, it is essential to keep in mind the urgency of action and its financing, as well as the need for shared trust, particularly in structuring value-sharing mechanisms.

Companies that understand the need to engage alongside their suppliers—especially when raw materials are directly linked to the state of biodiversity—can contribute to financing and implementing actions that enhance the resilience of territories affected by both climate change and biodiversity loss.

Nathalie Lhayani reminds us that €2.8 trillion worth of European businesses depend on environmental services. This is far from a minor issue!

Diane Simiu, Director at the DGEC, recalls that in recent years, France has developed tools such as the SNCRR, which simultaneously address needs related to the ERC sequence, carbon offset challenges within the framework of the Low Carbon Label, and the voluntary commitment of economic actors eager to play their part in tackling environmental challenges.

Sylvain Goupille emphasizes the importance of keeping in mind that everything happens at the land level—where biodiversity, climate, and social issues all intersect. In recent years, the creation of Printemps des Terres has contributed to this effort. The Organization for Biodiversity Certificates brings together stakeholders working to develop tools that translate ecological additionality into certificates. More recently, RESTORE – Biodiversity, Together has introduced an innovative (and much-anticipated!) solution for economic actors looking to commit to biodiversity conservation.

The panel emphasized that carbon and biodiversity credits must uphold a high level of ambition and transparency.

Thank you to the Institute for Sustainable Finance for giving biodiversity a place in this important day dedicated to mobilizing financial actors.