Press Conference: Accelerating Innovation for a Nature-positive Economy in China

China, as the world's second-largest economy and one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, has an important role to play in leading the transition to a carbon-neutral and nature-positive future. The country's robust economic and technological progress over the past 40 years, raising 800 million people out of poverty, has been accompanied by significant strides in tackling biodiversity loss and environmental degradation. Coupling China’s innovation prowess with its environmental leadership can help catalyze the transition to a nature-positive economy and help realize President Xi Jinping's national priority of an "ecological civilization".

Prioritizing innovation can accelerate sustainable growth that meets economic and environmental goals. Transforming novel ideas into successful early-stage ventures that deliver high-quality growth while safeguarding the natural environment will require the cultivation of a collaborative ecosystem of actors across the public sector, industry, investor and innovator communities.

UpLink and 1t.org will present, for the first time in China, innovators that embody this new business model, helping advance progress on China’s climate ambitions while delivering better outcomes for people, the planet and the economy.