Investing in ASEAN’s Natural Capital: Enabling Conditions and Pathways for Financing Nature-based Solutions
Date: November 9, 2026 / Events
Date: November 10 | 12:00 – 13:30
Location: ASEAN Pavilion, UNFCCC COP31, Antalya, Türkiye
Organisers: Indonesia Ministry of Forestry, Conservation International and IUCN, in collaboration with the UK–Indonesia Multistakeholder Forestry Programme Phase 5, the Global EbA Fund, UNEP, and IKI/BMUKN.
Southeast Asia is home to some of the world’s most carbon-rich and biodiverse ecosystems, including mangroves, peatlands, tropical forests and coastal areas. These ecosystems are essential for climate mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity conservation and the livelihoods of millions of people. Yet, despite growing ambition across the region, significant gaps remain between national climate and nature commitments and the finance needed to put them into practice.
At UNFCCC COP31, the session Investing in ASEAN’s Natural Capital: Enabling Conditions and Pathways for Financing Nature-based Solutions will explore how to bridge these gaps and accelerate investment in nature-based solutions (NbS) across Southeast Asia.
Bringing together perspectives from governments, regional institutions and project developers, the discussion will examine the enabling conditions needed to turn forest, climate and biodiversity priorities into high-integrity investment opportunities. Panellists will explore lessons from the Global EbA Fund on how catalytic grant funding can help advance ecosystem-based adaptation, strengthen project pipelines and unlock opportunities for larger-scale finance. The session will also consider the development of nature-based carbon projects under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, including the policy frameworks, partnerships and investment conditions needed to move from early-stage feasibility to implementation and transactions.
Drawing on country experiences from across ASEAN, the discussion will highlight practical pathways for mobilising finance, strengthening regional cooperation and supporting the delivery of national climate and adaptation commitments.
The session will address:
- How ASEAN countries can align forest, climate and biodiversity priorities with national investment planning and financing strategies.
- Lessons from Global EbA Fund projects on the role of catalytic grants in advancing ecosystem-based adaptation and creating pathways towards sustained finance.
- Opportunities and challenges in developing high-integrity nature-based carbon projects under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
- The enabling policy, institutional and financial conditions needed to move projects from early-stage development to investment readiness and implementation.
- How regional partnerships can support investment in nature and contribute to ASEAN’s climate and biodiversity ambitions.
