UNEP FI Iberian Sustainable Finance Forum explores pathways to finance nature and resilience

The AIR Centre participated in the UNEP FI Iberian Sustainable Finance Forum, held on 29 September in Lisbon and hosted by Caixa Geral de Depósitos. The event brought together financial institutions and key stakeholders to discuss emerging global risks, climate transition, nature-positive finance and sustainable investment strategies, fostering dialogue on how the financial sector can strengthen resilience and accelerate the transition towards a more sustainable future.

Representing the AIR Centre, Valerie de Liedekerke, Head of the Ocean Policy & Stakeholders Engagement Programme, joined the panel Scaling Finance for Nature, moderated by Ana Sena of UNEP FI. The discussion also featured Lucia Alessi from the European Commission and Paula Guimarães from The Navigator Company.

The panel explored how the financial sector can better address biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation, highlighting challenges related to environmental data, regulatory developments and the integration of nature-related risks into investment and business decisions.

Valerie de Liedekerke highlighted the important role of oceans and coastal ecosystems within the nature finance agenda. She emphasised that while marine ecosystems provide significant environmental, economic and societal benefits, investment in ocean-related nature solutions remains limited, underscoring the need for financing mechanisms that support the protection, restoration and sustainable management of marine and coastal environments.

During the discussion, she also presented BlueMissionAA2030, the new project supporting the next phase of the Atlantic-Arctic Lighthouse under the EU Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters. Building on the results and networks established through BlueMissionAA, it aims to move from pilot actions to wider deployment, helping translate Mission objectives into coordinated action through a network of National Hubs across the Atlantic region.

Through its participation in the forum, the AIR Centre contributed to the broader discussion on how public and private finance can help scale nature-positive solutions, strengthen resilience and support long-term sustainable development.