Given shortfalls in government funding, the need for private investment in promoting biodiversity and ecosystem services is great and we commonly hear that private equity firms are well placed to help fill this gap.    For example, a COP15 biodiversity target is to “Mobilise by 2030 at least $200 billion per year in domestic and international biodiversity-related funding from all sources – public and private”. 

There appears to be huge enthusiasm for private investment for biodiversity, and environmental economists have devised numerous models to harvest this money.  But so far the enthusiasm has not been matched by real investment.  Why not? 

What are the barriers to matching finance with real environmental outcomes? 

The Foundation ran a two part webinar to explore the barriers to real private investment becoming a significant funding source for protecting biodiversity and ecosystems in Australia and globally.  The goal was to identify the best ideas and opportunities for private investors, as well as policy options for governments.

Session 1

Session 2