A new key biodiversity platform for cross sectoral collaboration
For its inaugural launch, World Biodiversity Summit will help define what world leaders and the private sector in biodiversity and climate action need to do in the medium and long term to achieve sustainable development and hinder further biodiversity loss, focusing on partnerships and investment mechanisms as levers of progress. World Biodiversity Summit is a platform for responding to accelerating biodiversity loss, by using the Paris Agreement as a framework to learn from, promoting relevant solutions, innovations, and leadership networks, strengthening nature restoration and conservation. Nature-based solutions will be highlighted, from specificecosystems to global possibilities.
SPEAKERS
SPEAKERS
SPEAKERS
New York, USA | 21 September 2022
Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt | 15 November 2022
Paul Holthus
CEO, World Ocean Council
Paul Holthus founded the World Ocean Council (WOC) – the Global Blue Economy Business Organization – the international business leadership alliance on ocean sustainable development, science and stewardship. The WOC brings together investment, shipping, fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, offshore energy, mining, submarine cables, ports, and other sectors for global business community leadership, collaboration and action on “Corporate Ocean Responsibility”.
The WOC Ocean Investment Platform is the global structure/process linking investors, ocean industries and innovators. The annual WOC Sustainable Ocean Summit is the premier high-level global ocean business and investment event on sustainable development.
Paul has held senior positions with UN Environment and other international organizations. He has worked in 30+ countries, with companies, communities, industry associations, UN agencies, NGOs, and governments on practical ocean sustainability solutions. He has advanced degrees in marine resources and international business, was a Fulbright scholar in Australia and is an East-West Center alum.
Paul is a regular speaker at international business, investment and intergovernmental events, was invited to be on the UN Secretary General’s ocean advisory panel for Rio+20, and is the only global ocean industry organization representative invited to address the UN General Assembly. He has been involved in climate change issues since the late 1980’s, e.g. organizing the first Pacific regional conference on climate change (Majuro, 1989) and representing Pacific region organizations at the 2nd World Climate Conference (Geneva, 1990) and UNFCCC PrepComs.