As the 2030 target for several of the world’s key sustainable development and environment agendas fast approaches, recognition is growing that achieving these global objectives requires a whole-of-society approach. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Business Summit brought together business leaders from around the world to address their role in transitioning toward nature-positive economies and societies and helping to advance some of these global goals.

Over four days, the Summit served as a platform for engagement and exchange on strategies addressing the urgent triple planetary crisis of biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution. A high-level segment, held on 10-11 October ahead of the main programme, aimed at inspiring collective ambition for accelerating the transition to nature-positive systems.

Highlighting the credible actions by business leaders contributing to sustainable development and nature conservation, the Summit furthermore aimed to unlock new partnerships within and across sectors, and to close the divide between ambitious targets and on-the-ground successes. Building on the CEO Summit held in Marseille, France, in 2021, where business leaders made pledges and commitments to action on conserving and restoring nature, this year’s Summit showcased further entry points for aligning business and finance with the goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Alongside bridging silos, discussions across the Summit focused on driving meaningful action for the benefit of people and planet. Its main venue, the Business Pavilion, provided space to enhance collaboration between stakeholders—from civil society and business to Indigenous leaders, scientists, and governments.

In addition to presenting an opportunity for knowledge exchange, the Summit highlighted actions integrating science-based tools and frameworks into decision making and risk management, as well as discuss strategies for resource and capital mobilization. The Summit further focused on nature-based solutions, unlocking biodiversity finance at scale, the costs of plastic pollution, and inclusive stakeholder strategies, among many other topics.

The IUCN Business Summit met from 10-13 October 2025 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

The Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) writers for this meeting were Emma Vovk and Olivia Pasini. The Digital Editor was Danny Skilton. French translation by Feryel Gadhoum and Mongi Gadhoum. Spanish translation by Socorro Estrada and Alexandra Lefevre. The Editor was Leila Mead.

Funding for ENB coverage of the IUCN Business Summit was provided by IUCN.