Brussels Conference Agenda

In the context of geopolitical instability, climate impacts, and growing pressure on food, water and energy systems, this high-level plenary places nature at the heart of Europe’s resilience agenda. It explores why investing in nature is not a “nice to have”, but a strategic necessity for economic stability, security and long-term competitiveness. 

Panel debate to explore the frontier of nature-positive finance together with its leaders and pioneers. How large is the financing gap - and how can we bridge it? How to make long-term investment in nature bankable?  

Short TED-like talks. This session explores how nature is no longer just an external concern for business, but a core asset embedded directly into a successful business model. We hear from top executives about the role nature plays in their businesses, from the choice of suppliers and materials all the way to their customer promise. We get insights into how nature and climate risks influence commercial and operational decisions, if and how they bring nature in the board room, and why! 

Nature credits are emerging fast as a tool to mobilise private finance for biodiversity, ecosystems, and restoration—but they raise big questions. Do they genuinely deliver measurable benefits for nature and communities, or do they risk repeating the mistakes of early carbon markets? This session explores whether nature credits can become a credible, scalable instrument, and under what conditions they should (or should not) be used. 

A classic at the EU Green Week, the LIFE Awards celebrate the best LIFE-funded projects on nature, climate resilience, circular economy and clean energy.

Healthy soils are the foundation of Europe’s food security, economic resilience and public health. Yet science is unequivocal: soil degradation affects every EU Member State, with an estimated 60–70% of soils in an unhealthy condition. The EU Soil Monitoring Law marks a decisive step forward, providing the basis for harmonised soil health data, better risk assessment and more informed decision-making across Europe. This session will explore how policy and business can turn this challenge into an innovation opportunity. 

Urbanisation is a trend that will continue for the foreseeable future. Today, around 75% of EU population lives in urban areas, a figure expected to rise to 80% by 2050. However, the available land surface will not expand to meet this growth. The demand for affordable housing, urban development and business activities creates competing pressures on limited space, often at the expense of urban green areas and biodiversity. While maintaining and restoring urban ecosystems is now part of EU legislation, a critical question remains: can cities grow – providing more housing and business opportunities – while becoming greener?   

Rural flight has been driven by industrialisation, the decline of family farms and small-scale local economies, and broader structural factors such as reduced access to services, employment opportunities, mobility, and shifting demographic dynamics. As a result, many rural areas have become less attractive—not only as places to work or raise a family, but also as living environments in their own right—despite their central role in Europe’s landscapes, cultural identity, and overall quality of life. Yet an alternative trajectory is possible. This inspiring panel session, organised in collaboration with Natura 2000, explores whether—and how—nature can become a cornerstone in reversing rural abandonment and supporting resilient rural futures. 

Implementation of the Nature Restoration Regulation is underway. During 2026, restoration plans are developed and discussed among experts, stakeholders and citizens across Europe. Since its presentation, the NRR has been surrounded by intense debate, sometimes pitting profitable agriculture against healthy nature. But is the dichotomy false? Is the way forward not a choice of one over the other? In this conversation, we will explore Denmark’s 2024 tripartite agreement between public authorities, farmers’ organisations and green NGOs. How to undertake the journey from competing interests to a shared vision? What are the detours, pitfalls and obstacles? How to translate a broad political compromise into concrete and measurable action at local level? What could other EU countries learn from the Danish experience?