Experts from the United Nations, conservation organisations and sustainable finance institutions will explore investment-ready nature projects and the role of artificial intelligence in closing the climate finance gap at a global symposium in Türkiye.
Global finance experts, investors, conservationists and policymakers will converge in Antalya, Türkiye, on November 18, 2026, to explore innovative ways of mobilising investment for nature-based solutions and sustainable development.
The gathering, organised by the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF), will hold its 9th Investment Case Symposium under the theme, “AI and the Future of Sustainable Finance,” alongside the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31).
The hybrid event, which will also be accessible online, will examine how science, artificial intelligence (AI) and credible data governance can strengthen sustainable finance, improve investment decisions and connect investors with viable climate and nature projects.
Through 18 plenary, pitching and interactive sessions, the symposium will showcase emerging opportunities in climate, biodiversity and carbon finance, with particular attention to developing bankable project structures, demonstrating credible returns and reducing investment risks.
A major highlight will be the launch of Rio Changemakers as a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), 12 months after its announcement at COP30 in Belém, Brazil.
The AI-enabled, science-guided marketplace is designed to connect investors and funding institutions with locally led climate and nature solutions. Its launch will also provide an opportunity for project developers, funds and investors to apply to participate in the platform.
The symposium has attracted experts from different sectors of the global sustainability and investment ecosystem.
Among the newly confirmed speakers is Alejandro Kilpatrick, Manager of the Capacity-building Subdivision, Means of Implementation Division at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). He contributed to negotiations leading to the Paris Agreement, particularly Article 9, which addresses climate finance.
Others include Ken Kimani, Director of Corporate Affairs at Ol Pejeta Conservancy, who focuses on blended finance and sustainable business models; Margaret Kim, Chief Executive Officer of Gold Standard, which supports the measurement and certification of climate and development impacts; and Michal Nachmany, Founder and CEO of Climate Policy Radar, an international climate policy and governance expert who advises the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on responsible AI.
Also joining the lineup is Riki Frindos, Chair of the Executive Board of KEHATI Foundation and Non-Executive Director of Mandiri Investment Management, who works to advance sustainable investment practices in Indonesia.
The programme will feature discussions on the challenges preventing available capital from flowing into viable nature and climate projects.
The opening plenary, titled “A New Era of Action for Sustainable Finance,” will examine the systems, assumptions and barriers separating available finance from bankable investment opportunities.
Discussions will cover responsible AI, reliable data, investment readiness and the respective contributions of public, private and philanthropic capital.
Another major feature will be the Lions’ Den pitching sessions, which will give selected projects and funds an opportunity to present their investment propositions to potential investors and receive direct feedback.
Under the sessions “From Conservation Impact to Investment Readiness” and “What Makes a Fund Bankable?”, participating projects drawn from the Rio Changemakers pipeline will be assessed on risk management, governance, measurable outcomes and financing structures.
Funds will also receive feedback on their financial models, investment readiness, impact measurement, monitoring systems and overall bankability.
The symposium will further examine the growing influence of artificial intelligence on sustainable investment through a session titled “Will AI Be the Turnkey for Sustainable Investment?”
The discussion will consider how technology can improve investment decisions while recognising that institutional, financial and governance challenges require more than technological solutions.
It will also explore the importance of human judgement, responsible data management and community participation in deploying AI for sustainable development.
The closing plenary, “What Will It Take to Unlock Sustainable Finance?” will draw lessons from COP31 and the day’s discussions, including a Rio Changemakers ministerial roundtable scheduled to take place in the conference’s Blue Zone before the symposium.
Other sessions will explore financing youth-led ecosystem initiatives, investment opportunities in peatlands, resilient food systems and locally led restoration projects.
The symposium’s programme was developed by a 13-member knowledge committee comprising experts from leading organisations.
Among them is Maimuna Jawara, one of six primary forest ambassadors appointed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) at the biodiversity COP17 in Armenia.
Recognised for her conservation work in The Gambia and Uganda, Jawara also coordinates the GLFx Banjul chapter, part of the Global Landscapes Forum community.
Her involvement reflects the importance of locally led initiatives and African perspectives in shaping global conversations around nature conservation and sustainable investment.
The Global Landscapes Forum describes itself as the world’s largest knowledge-led platform on integrated land use, connecting stakeholders to advance productive, prosperous, equitable and resilient landscapes.
The organisation is led by Landscape Alliance, bringing together the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF), in collaboration with its co-founders, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Bank.
The 9th GLF Investment Case Symposium will take place on November 18, 2026, in Antalya, Türkiye, and online. Interested participants can explore the programme and register through the Global Landscapes Forum website.
