Delivering opening remarks for Biodiversity Credit Alliance event at UN Ocean Conference

Today I was delighted to give the opening remarks for the Biodiversity Credit Alliance’s event on “Marine Biodiversity Credits: Applying High-level Principles to Coastal & Ocean Ecosystems” during the UN Ocean Conference in Nice.

📅 13th June 2025 | ⏰ 14:15-15:15 | 📍La Baleine, Auditorium Nautilus

🌏 The Biodiversity Credit Alliance (BCA) is a partnership facilitated by the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) and UNDP that exists to provide guidance for the establishment of a credible and scalable market that stands up to the scrutiny of multiple stakeholders. Key among them are Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities at the frontline of the biodiversity crisis. Together were working to ensure strong foundations and principles exist and can be applied by all market participants going forward.

💡 BCA is a voluntary international alliance that brings together diverse stakeholders to support the realisation of the KunmingMontreal Global Biodiversity Framework, in particular Targets 19(c) and (d), which encourage the private sector to invest in biodiversity utilising, amongst others biodiversity credits with social safeguards.

BCAs mission is twofold:

1. Help steer the development of a voluntary biodiversity credit market by building a framework of high-level, science-based principles.

2. Provide guidance and encourage best practice for market participants on the application of these principles, empowering them to achieve and maintain equitable, high quality transactions that meet strict integrity criteria.

🌊 I will be joined by a panel of distinguished speakers:

  • Shelly Bengiat, Founder and CEO, Envirotech-Coralz Group
  • Loretta Pele Glanville, Director, Perfect Sea Corals Collective, and Representative of Torres Strait Islanders, as a Traditional Owner
  • Christina Geijer, PhD, Head of Marine Strategy, NATURAL STATE
  • Michael Stewart, Co-founder, Seatrees
  • Chris Stone, Vice President, Long-Term Finance, Conservation International
  • Evie Ward, Blue Carbon Coordinator, Plan Vivo Foundation
  • Celine Meunier, Nature Finance Advisor
  • Panel Moderator: Dominik Martin Maczik, Working Group Coordinator, Biodiversity Credit Alliance

Learn more about BCA here.

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