IISD at Building Bridges 2025
Building Bridges brings together finance, policy, civil society, and international organizations to accelerate the transition to a sustainable and just global economic model. IISD is pleased to contribute to this year's program with two events focused on unlocking finance for nature through debt-for-nature swaps and investment-ready nature-based solutions (NbS).
From September 30 to October 2, 2025, Building Bridges will once again position Geneva at the centre of global efforts to align finance with sustainability. The summit brings together policy-makers, investors, and international organizations to move beyond dialogue and accelerate action on the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement.
IISD is proud to be a founding partner of Building Bridges. It contributes as part of the event selection committee, shaping the 2025 program. If you are attending Building Bridges, don't miss IISD's two sessions on channelling more finance into nature. IISD will explore the future of debt-for-nature swaps and the journey from project origination to financing NbS.
Debt-for-Nature Swaps: Mobilizing private investors
Debt-for-nature swaps are re-emerging as a way to link debt sustainability with conservation and climate action. For investors and banks, the central question is under what conditions these instruments can offer both stable returns and measurable impact.
This session will explore how credit enhancements, blended finance, and sustainability-linked bonds can make debt-for-nature swaps attractive to private capital while ensuring transparent delivery of ecological and social outcomes.
Date: Thursday, October 2, 2025 | 15:30–17:00 CET
Location: Centre International de Conférences Genève, Room B
Speakers
- Nathalie Bernasconi-Osterwalder, Vice-President, Global Strategies and Managing Director, Europe, IISD
- Louis Bourgeois, Senior Impact Manager, BlueOrchard
- Nathalie Picarelli, Senior Economist, World Bank
- Niki Doshi, Director, Sustainable Debt, The Nature Conservancy
- Guillaume Bonnel, CEO of the SDG Impact Finance Initiative
Read more here.
Can't make it to Geneva? Watch the livestream here.
From Project Origination to Financing Nature-Based Solutions
Scaling NbS requires more than good concepts. It depends on enabling frameworks, rigorous valuations, and innovative financing structures that make projects bankable without compromising impact.
This interactive fishbowl session will follow the journey from project origination through to financing, addressing how to demonstrate co-benefits, reduce uncertainty, and create conditions for institutional and private capital to engage.
Date: Thursday, October 2, 2025 | 10:30–12:00 CET
Location: Centre International de Conférences Genève – Room 9 (Level 2)
Speakers
- Hilda Liswani, Global Strategic Partnership Lead, Global Infrastructure Basel Foundation
- Juraj Jurík, Director, Infrastructure and Nature, Global Infrastructure Basel Foundation
- Marie-Laure Schaufelberger, Chief Sustainability Officer, Pictet Group
- Ilona Szabó de Carvalho, President and Co-founder, Igarapé Institute
- David Uzsoki, Sustainable Finance Lead, IISD
- Santiago Espinosa de los Monteros Harispuru, CEO Toroto
Upcoming events
ASEAN Regional Workshop on Carbon Pricing and Carbon Markets
This workshop will explore policy design options suited to national contexts in the ASEAN region, and strengthen readiness for participation in international carbon markets, including under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
Exploring Sustainable Markets and Trade Opportunities for COMESA Countries
This webinar series for COMESA member states, producers, and small and medium-sized enterprises aims to enhance their understanding of sustainability standards and regulatory developments.
Bridging the Gap Between Tax and Investment Communities: Understanding tax incentives in investment laws
Webinar bringing together tax and investment communities to discuss coordination challenges in the design, approval, and oversight of tax incentives.
The EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism: Vietnam exporters’ training
This workshop offers Viet Nam-based steel and aluminum exporters practical guidance on meeting their EU CBAM compliance obligations.