The paper Biodiversity and Infrastructure: A Better Nexus? discusses the catalytic opportunities for integrating biodiversity conservation into infrastructure development, particularly through the use of nature-based solutions and natural infrastructure. Undoubtedly, national biodiversity strategies and biodiversity action plans provide the first opportunities. Similarly, national green economy plans, national infrastructure plans and pipelines, national climate adaption and mitigation plans and broader rural development, agriculture and urban planning policies provide critical opportunities for integrating biodiversity goals with infrastructure development.
During the 13th Conference of Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) decided that the next COP would ultimately continue the “Mainstreaming of biodiversity into the sectors of energy and mining, infrastructure, manufacturing and processing industry, and health”. The 21st meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) will discuss initial draft propositions under Item 6 of the agenda. In this brief, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provide initial policy guidance for parties to consider prior to COP-14 in Egypt on how biodiversity mainstreaming can be reconciled with the infrastructure sector.