Environmental NGOs Form Coalition to Support Debt-for-Nature Swaps at COP16
A coalition of six major conservation organizations was launched at COP16 to create standardized guidelines for debt-for-nature swaps, potentially unlocking up to $100 billion in finance for low-income countries. The initiative aims to bolster environmental conservation while alleviating debt pressures.
Published on March 30, 2025
Six major international conservation organizations, including The Nature Conservancy, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Conservation International, Re:wild, WWF-US, and The Wildlife Conservation Society, have announced a new coalition at the COP16 biodiversity summit in Colombia on October 29, 2024. This coalition aims to develop standards for sovereign debt conversions that support both nature and climate protection, potentially unlocking up to $100 billion in finance for low-income countries burdened by debt.
The initiative focuses on creating clear guidelines for governance and operations of debt-for-nature swaps—transactions where a nation's debt is reduced in exchange for commitments to environmental conservation. Supported by prominent voices including Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro, this effort is designed to address the dual crises of biodiversity loss and climate change while easing debt constraints that restrict nature protection in developing countries.