IAPB POLICY FORUM

Images from the launch of the IAPB Policy Forum at COP30, and the latest IAPB Policy Forum in September 2026, hosted in partnership with the Indonesian Government. 

A Global Policy Forum for High-Integrity Nature Credit Markets

Governments across the world are increasingly considering to develop nature credit markets, as a means to complement financial resources mobilization as part of their national biodiversity strategies and finance plans – in line with Target 19(d) of the Global Biodiversity Framework and ensuing discussions, such as those taking place as part of the Convention on Biological Diversity Conference of the Parties and its Subsidiary Body of Implementation. Many governments are confronting the same challenges: how to design credible frameworks that genuinely work to create positive impacts for nature, for people, whilst attracting finance at scale. As discussed in Learnings from Government-Led Approaches to Nature Credit Markets , the 19 existing national or subnational markets that we have identified show significant differences in scope, purpose, mechanisms and methodologies – as well as a varying level of integration of the High Level Principles for High Integrity proposed by IAPB, BCA and WEF in 2024.

In launching The Global Policy Forum on Nature Credits with support from France, Indonesia, and the United Kingdom, IAPB aimed to provide a platform for policymakers to collectively discuss and identify responses to these foundational questions – how should we start, what design options are best for what purpose, what is meant by high integrity and how can this be implemented, which sectors of our economy should contribute, what are other countries doing?

The Policy Forum provides a neutral, government-focused platform to share lessons, develop practical solutions, and accelerate the growth of high-integrity nature markets worldwide.

In 2026 the policy forum sessions included participants from ministries of Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, Namibia, Peru, Philippines, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United Kingdom.

Collaboration, Integrity and Independence  

Through collaboration, technical guidance and shared learning, the Forum supports countries at every stage of market development. Members gain access to emerging standards, policy toolkits, case studies and market insights, while regional partnerships help translate global best practice into approaches tailored to local realities and priorities.

The Policy Forum provides a platform for country presentations, discussions, external third party knowledge sharing, as well as IAPB-curated content, to provide each country with insights on the conditions for establishing, catalysing and growing high-integrity nature markets, in a manner that responds to each country’s ecological, economic, social and political context.

By fostering knowledge sharing on solutions, opportunities and challenges, countries have an opportunity to consider how nature credits can provide a solution for domestic nature finance. By proposing a common understanding of integrity standards and sharing insights on implementation mechanisms and methodologies, the Policy Forum helps countries assess and design what works for them, building on consistent foundations for ecological, social and economic impact.