Moderator

• Norma Munguía Aldaraca
  Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mexico, Director General for Global Issues

Panelists

• Erika Casamadrid
  The Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN), National Coordinator

• Alton Best
  Ministry of Finance, Barbados, Fiscal Risk Specialist

• Laura Ripani
  BID, Representative of BID Group in Mexico.

• Antonio Freitas
  Ministry of Finance, Brazil, Under-Secretary for International Finance and Economic Cooperation

Background
Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is home to nearly 40% of the world’s biodiversity and hosts key ecosystems vital to climate regulation, water conservation, and livelihoods. However, the region faces growing environmental pressures—such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution—that threaten development, equity, and democratic governance.

In the lead-up to COP30 and the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework, there is increasing recognition that environmental financing must be at the core of national development strategies. The Seville Commitment provides a renewed framework to align public, private, and international financial flows with sustainability goals, calling for greater resource mobilization to address climate and ecological challenges 

This session will examine how countries in the region are implementing integrated financing strategies that link climate, biodiversity, and development.

It will explore how green finance can drive economic resilience, social equity, and more inclusive governance.

Key enabling conditions for sustainable environmental finance—such as institutional capacity, international cooperation, and governance reforms—will also be addressed. By highlighting best practices, the session aims to strengthen regional financing strategies and support the preparation of robust proposals for COP30 and other multilateral environmental forums, paving the way for more equitable and sustainable development models.

Objectives

• Explore how LAC countries are integrating climate and biodiversity priorities into their financing strategies.
• Analyze the use of public resources, international cooperation, and private investment to advance environmental agendas and mobilize domestic resources.
• Show how green finance can drive a sustainable, inclusive, and competitive economic transformation.

Guiding questions

• How are countries integrating climate and environmental priorities into their national financing strategies and budgetary frameworks?
• How can international cooperation be effectively leveraged to scale up climate and biodiversity financing in the region, and what complementary strategies can enhance domestic resource mobilization and long-term sustainability?
• In what ways can environmental action generate economic opportunities and support the transition to more sustainable and inclusive development models?
• What regulatory frameworks or incentives are needed to encourage investment in sustainable sectors?