UK–Armenia Nature Finance & Business Dialogue on the Occasion of COP17

On October 26, the British Embassy Yerevan, in collaboration with the UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and in partnership with the Armenian British Business Chamber (ABBC), hosted the UK–Armenia Nature Finance & Business Dialogue on the occasion of COP17.

The event brought together government representatives, business leaders, investors, and international experts from Armenia and the United Kingdom to explore opportunities in nature finance, sustainable investment, and biodiversity, while strengthening bilateral cooperation and fostering meaningful public–private engagement.

The programme opened with remarks by H.E. Alexandra Cole, His Majesty’s Ambassador to Armenia, alongside a representative of the Government of Armenia. The opening session was followed by a keynote address, Why Nature Finance Matters, delivered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter MP, Minister for Nature and Rural Affairs, highlighting the growing importance of nature finance in advancing environmental priorities and sustainable economic development.

A central part of the dialogue was the panel discussion, Turning Nature-Positive Ambition into Investable Opportunities, moderated by Nicholas Bruschi, Senior Nature Programme Lead at the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGCC).

The discussion addressed three key areas: the growing attention businesses and investors are paying to nature-related risks and nature-positive opportunities; the standards, data, governance, and safeguards required to support credible biodiversity markets and nature finance; and practical opportunities for UK–Armenia collaboration following COP17.

The panel brought together Charlie Dixon, Programme Director for Nature at the Green Finance Institute, who discussed the work of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD); Ara Makaryan, Director of the Business Development Department at ArmSwissBank; Eoin Murray, Chief Investment Officer at Rebalance Earth; and Alexander Burr, Director of Investment Stewardship, Nature Lead, and ESG Policy Lead at L&G Asset Management. Their contributions explored the relationship between nature-positive ambition, financial markets, investment opportunities, and the frameworks required to support credible and sustainable outcomes.

The programme continued with a UK Expertise Spotlight examining UK domestic nature markets and the Growing Places publication, presented by Ruth Davis, UK Special Representative for Nature. The session also featured reflections on international markets from the International Advisory Panel on Biodiversity Credits (IAPB), alongside a presentation of Finance Earth’s Big Nature Impact Fund.

Further insights into the relationship between business and biodiversity were provided through a session on the IPBES Business and Biodiversity Assessment, presented by Matt Jones, co-author of the assessment, with a business perspective from Aviva. The session highlighted the relevance of biodiversity considerations to business decision-making and the importance of integrating nature-related considerations into corporate strategies.

The dialogue also introduced the 30-Day UK Expertise Request Window, inviting organizations to identify the UK consultancy and technical expertise they require. Through this initiative, the British Embassy will facilitate targeted introductions to relevant UK organizations, supporting knowledge exchange and the development of potential partnerships between Armenian and British stakeholders.

The programme concluded with networking and pre-arranged business-to-business meetings, providing participants with opportunities to establish connections, exchange expertise, and explore avenues for future cooperation.

The event was supported by ABBC members Red Bridge Yerevan, which served as the venue partner; Big Projects, which provided technical support and assistance with event organization; and O2 Gardens, which created a nature-inspired photo zone reflecting the dialogue’s focus on sustainability and biodiversity.

The UK–Armenia Nature Finance & Business Dialogue underscored the importance of continued cooperation between the two countries in advancing nature-positive investment, strengthening business engagement, and exploring opportunities at the intersection of finance, biodiversity, and sustainable development.