The warm-up event of "Business and Biodiversity Forum", the parallel event of the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), was held in Kunming on 6 and 7 June 2021, under the theme of “The business and finance journey to Kunming: We are part of the solution”. This event was co-hosted by the CBD Secretariat Office and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), and facilitated by Foreign Environmental Cooperation Center (FECO) of MEE, the World Economic Forum and the Office of Yunnan Steering Group for CBD COP15.

The event concluded that the biodiversity loss is becoming more and more severe due to the irrational exploitation and utilization of natural resources and climate change impact caused by human activities. In the post-pandemic era, the world is committed to promoting a green and high-quality economic recovery and reshaping more sustainable and resilient economy. Under this new situation, businesses are responsible to take on the leadership role, to accelerate the pace of ecological economic transformation,incorporate biodiversity targets into strategy planning and decision-making process, and provide support for promoting a comprehensive green transformation. The event also put forward the recommendations for the businesses to biodiversity conservation: firstly, to actively explore the synergies in achieving the climate change and biodiversity goals, to share practical experience, and to lead transformational development; secondly, to set up targets and strategies on biodiversity conservation and sustainable use based on the business operation situation and market opportunities; lastly, to actively explore various cooperation mechanisms with wider group of stakeholders and to take on opportunities through technology innovation and financial mechanisms.

The United Nations Secretary General Special Envoy for the Ocean, the Resident Representative of UNDP China, Regional Director of French Development Agency in China and other international organizations also gave keynote speeches on-site or on-line.

This event was supported by the United Nations and relevant international organizations, companies such as China General Nuclear Group, Huawei and etc. Around 200 representatives from domestic and foreign governments, civil societies, and businesses attended the event on-site, and around 300 people participated on-line.