Date and Time
December 6, 2023
2:30 pm-3:30 pm
GST
Location
Dubai (ICC, Auditorium, COP28 Blue Zone)
Topic
Climate Change | Nature
Biodiversity loss is currently one of the most significant risks for the global economy. Estimates suggest that 55 percent of global GDP is directly dependent on biodiversity and ecosystem services, while 1 in 5 nations are at risk from ecosystem collapse due to declining biodiversity. Climate change and biodiversity loss are intrinsically related, and solutions that address both risks are crucial for a sustainable future. Could biodiversity credits be a solution in this scenario? What are the key challenges to advance this agenda?
Scheduled Speakers
- Keyvan Macedo, Sustainability Director at Natura &Co and Vice Chair of ICC Global Environmental and Energy Commission
- Carlos Nobre, Earth System Scientist and Professor at Institute of Advanced Studies at University of São Paulo
- Oliver Whiters, Head of Biodiversity at Standard Chartered (TBC)
- Erin Leitheiser, Associate Director, Nature, BSR
- Mariana Barbosa, Legal and Institutional Relations Director at re.green
Erin Leitheiser
Associate Director, Nature, BSR
Copenhagen
Erin helps lead BSR’s nature team where she focuses on the climate/nature nexus, including credits, nature-based solutions (NbS), and beyond value chain mitigation.
She leads engagements with companies to evaluate their nature impacts, devise nature positive strategies, and implement operational and supply chain solutions that further both biodiversity and decarbonization goals. She also works closely with companies on supplier engagement for Scope 3 emissions reductions and nature action, helping to develop resources like the Supplier Engagement Guide and the Climate Fit: Net Zero Training course on the SME Climate Hub.
Erin brings more than 18 years of experience, including remaining on the faculty at Copenhagen Business School following her prior role as an Assistant Professor. Before academia, Erin worked in CSR and sustainability at Target, where she built external partnerships and developed strategies to drive both business resilience and community impact. She began her career in sustainability consulting, working on public policy and social impact projects for nonprofit, public, and private clients.
Erin holds a PhD in Sustainability Governance from Copenhagen Business School, a MSc in Social Policy and Planning from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a BA in Honors History from Gustavus Adolphus College.