The attitudes and demands of the wider community are clear – with more than 73 per cent of people wanting stronger nature laws and over 90 per cent supporting more nature funding, according to the 2024 Biodiversity Concerns survey report launched earlier this year by the Biodiversity Council. Philanthropy’s role in catalysing action and supporting community voices has never been more crucial, which is why it is important to use the Global Nature Positive Summit to learn from and connect with AEGN members, business leaders and NGOs across the sector working to secure a nature positive future. Claire O’Rourke (AEGN CEO) is attending the Summit with AEGN Board Chair Dr Catherine Brown OAM and Nature Program Manager Margie Jenkin.

While the Summit primarily addresses economic mechanisms for conservation, it’s important to remember that achieving a nature-positive future is ultimately a government responsibility. It is disappointing that reforms to Australia’s weak environment laws have been delayed, and government investment in nature remains a fraction of public spending on subsidies for destructive industries. As we engage with the ideas and initiatives presented at the Summit, we will continue to advocate for strong policy and regulation, government funding that enables restoration, the reform of nature damaging subsidies, genuine engagement with First Nations communities, and robust mechanisms for transparency and enforcement.

What is the Global Nature Positive Summit?

In December 2022, parties to the Convention of Biological Diversity agreed to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). The key commitments in the GBF are: 

• By 2030, halt and reverse biodiversity loss ; and

• By 2050, value, conserve, and restore biodiversity, maintain ecosystems services, sustain a healthy planet and deliver benefits essential for all people.  

The concept of not only halting but reversing declining biodiversity has come to be known as “Nature Positive” – an approach that commits to overall gains, with an end goal of restoration of what’s been lost.   

The GBF sets out specific and ambitious targets, including protecting and restoring 30% of land and oceans by 2030, and no new species extinction. In signing on to the GBF, Australia has committed to these targets. However, we are not currently on track to meet them. 

The Summit is explicitly focussed on economic settings to attract private capital, impact investments, and use market mechanisms to fund the action needed to achieve “Nature Positive”.   

Key topics for discussion include: 

• Indigenous led initiatives to deliver for nature and communities 

• Valuing nature – improving risk disclosures, getting the metrics right to drive change, and building confidence in the rigour of market mechanisms 

• Embedding nature considerations into business decisions  (see the Biodiversity Council’s report on what Nature Positive means for business)

• Greenwashing 

• Sustainable agriculture initiatives 

• Collaborations and lasting partnerships to scale up responses 

• Sustainable oceans policy and the blue economy 
• Landscape scale approaches

What is the AEGN’s role?

Government funding alone will not be enough to turn things around with the urgency required. Philanthropy and private investment have an important role in catalysing action, supporting community voices, and scaling up nature initiatives to achieve Nature Positive.  AEGN can be a leader in calling for, and investing in, the changes we need.  

Any biodiversity markets need to learn from the failings of the carbon market – integrity, standards, clear metrics and reporting, transparency and enforcement will be essential. Without integrity, biodiversity markets risk being an expensive distraction and enabling business as usual.   

Ultimately, achieving Nature Positive is a government responsibility. Commitments are not enough without credible action plans and funding to enable their implementation. For philanthropic and private capital to drive meaningful change, we need strong policy frameworks, government funding, genuine and constructive consultation, and robust mechanisms for transparency and enforcement. 

AEGN plans to utilise the Summit to: 

• Advocate for policy settings that instil confidence in philanthropy to invest in nature and climate solutions; 

• Investigate methods to factor the true costs of nature and climate risks into decision making; 

• Reconnect with AEGN members and share your experiences;
• Learn from successful initiatives overseas and look for ways to adopt best practices in Australia; and
• Support environmental NGOs engaging in the Summit and its side events, ensuring their valuable insights are heard.

The Summit is an important opportunity to have robust conversations about what is needed to achieve a Nature Positive future. The AEGN will ensure philanthropy is part of those conversations.  

Communities are demanding action to stop the destruction of nature, to end the extinction crisis, and to protect the climate. Image credits Annette Ruzicka 2023, Mike Gilpin 2024.

Global Nature Positive Summit Side Events we are attending include:

• 4:30pm, 8 October – The Nature Conservancy 30×30 event (hosted by AEGN member, Rob McLean), Yirranma Place
• 6:00pm, 9 October – WWF Nature Positive Reception, Taronga Zoo
• 6:00pm, 9 October – Murray Darling Basin Alliance update, Shakespeare Room, Library of NSW

Dr Catherine Brown OAM

“Philanthropy has played a lead role in supporting nature conservation and restoration in Australia, from backing organisations that have bought land or covenanted land for conservation, Indigenous-led land management, regenerative farming, large and local scale marine conservation, grassroots groups working on critical projects,  policy influencing, and more.

As AEGN Chair and having worked in philanthropy for more than twenty years, it has become clear to me that philanthropy has special roles to play. We can be catalytic funders, we can take a long-term view, beyond political cycles, and we can provide start up and operating support with agility and flexibility. Our risk appetite is different from government or business. We sit alongside them and must all play to our strengths. Throughout the Summit, I’ll be looking to identify the most impactful roles for philanthropy and to consider opportunities to leverage philanthropy and blended finance models for maximum impact for climate and nature.”

Claire O’Rourke, AEGN CEO:

“I’m fascinated by the intersection of nature and climate and how to ensure our work drives positive change for both.  Over the next week, I’m looking forward to meeting people and representing AEGN in discussions about nature and philanthropy’s role in driving solutions.  

The Summit is an important opportunity to remind government of its core responsibilities, and call for more funding, stronger laws, and a genuine commitment to urgent action. It’s also an opportunity to hear about what’s working well in other places, learn from First Nations and Pacific practitioners, and find ways to adopt better practices in Australia.   

As I start thinking about AEGN’s Strategic Plan for the next three years, these discussions will help to align our work with climate and biodiversity targets, to accelerate action to match the urgency of this moment, and to use our collective power to secure lasting change. “

Margie Jenkin, AEGN Environmental Program Manager – Nature 

“I’ve just come back from the US, having been at the Environmental Grantmakers Association retreat, a Biodiversity Summit, and NY Climate Week. I’m keen to share what I learned and connect with others looking to collaborate on nature solutions.  

I’m pleased to see so much ocean content in the agenda, and hope that those discussions result in tangible commitments from the government to regional leadership on sustainable oceans.  

Two messages resonated through everything I heard in the US – First Nations people must be centred in nature and climate conversations, and private investment can only ever be a supplement, not a replacement, for government funding. Nature needs more and it will take leadership and support from the government and all sectors to achieve a genuinely nature positive future.”

What’s missing?  

The elephants in the room for the Summit will be climate inaction and the delayed reform of national environmental laws. Any Nature Positive goals will be undermined if the government continues to approve fossil fuel projects and ignores the impacts this will have on nature.   

The Summit also has very limited content on water management, a key emerging issue as the new national water agreement is being negotiated. Water is a concern for many AEGN members, so we will be urging the government to elevate that issue.  

Connect with us

Will you be at the Summit or ALCA conference this week and would like to catch up with us or other AEGN members?  Get in touch with Jess on jess.feehely@aegn.org.au or 0400 803 262.