Global Nature Positive Summit 2026

Save the Date: July 14–16, 2026, Kumamoto, Japan

Set Sail Together: Be Part of the Nature-Positive Journey

The 2030 deadline to halt and reverse nature loss is fast approaching.

The Summit will showcase bold examples from around the world, charting a path toward a nature-positive future in business, finance, and governance.
Hosted in Japan — a country with a deep connection to nature
— the second Global Nature Positive Summit in Kumamoto invites us all to join this journey toward a safer, more equitable, and thriving world.

NEWS

Opening Address from Minister Ishihara

I welcome the convening of the 2nd Global Nature Positive Summit 2026 here in Kumamoto, Japan. Kumamoto, blessed with abundant water resources, diverse ecosystems, and the Aso-Kuju National Park, is a symbolic region where people live in harmony with nature. It is highly meaningful that active discussions will take place in this location as we reflect on the value of nature and its future.

Across the world, human activities are putting an unprecedented number of species at risk of extinction. Halting and reversing the loss of biodiversity is essential to maintain the benefits we receive from nature, the very foundation of our society and livelihoods, and ultimately, human well-being.

The international community has set a shared goal of achieving a "nature positive" world—halting and reversing nature loss by 2030. Many economic activities depend on natural capital, and corporate awareness of nature positive initiatives continues to grow. Japan now has the world's largest number of TNFD adopters. The Ministry of the Environment has formulated the Transition Strategy Toward Nature Positive Economy, supporting corporate efforts while also advancing conservation of local ecosystems.

In 2010, Japan hosted the 10th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP10), contributing to the adoption of the Nagoya Protocol and the Aichi Targets.

This year marks the first time in 16 years since COP10 that an international conference on biodiversity is being held in Japan, and I feel a 2 deep sense of emotion and anticipation. As with COP10, I hope this conference will serve as a catalyst for accelerating international efforts toward achieving a nature positive world.

Main Speakers

We will be updating continuously going forward.

Kazufumi Onishi

Mayor of Kumamoto City

Representative (TBC)

Ministry of the Environment

Kaori Fujita

Professor, Green Goals Initiative and Graduate School of Life Sciences,
Tohoku University

Shinichiro Funabiki

Representative Director, President & CEO,
MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings, Inc.

Naoko Ishii

Professor, Institute for Future Initiatives and Director, Center for Global Commons
the University of Tokyo

Hiroshi Komori

Member of International Sustainability Standards Board, IFRS Foundation

Jun Asaki

Managing Executive Officer, Chief Sustainability Officer
SUNTORY HOLDINGS LIMITED

Shogoro Fujiki

CEO
Biome Inc.

Yoshiyuki Fujiwara

Sustainability Planning Team, Sustainability Group
Manager
Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line)

Wakao Hanaoka

CEO and Founder
Seafood Legacy

Yoichiro Hirose

Chief Executive Officer
BioSeed Technologies Inc.

Shinichiro Ide

Corporate SVP and CBXO
NEC Corporation
※CBXO：Chief Business Process Transformation Officer

Shogo Ikari

Executive Officer
Think Nature Inc.

Yuki Isaka

Operating Officer／ Head of Environment Improving Department
SEKISUI HOUSE, LTD.

Hiroyuki Isono

President & CEO
Oji Holdings

Junro Ito

Representative Director & Executive Chair
Seven & i Holdings Co., Ltd.

Saraya Ittoku

Executive Vice President / Head of Sustainability Promotion Division
Saraya Co., Ltd.

Yoshihisa Kasahara

President and Representative Director
The Higo Bank, Ltd.

Shinichiro Kashima

Managing Executive Officer
Responsible for Individual Insurance Business
Chief Sustainability Officer（CSuO）
Nippon Life Insurance Company

Taro Kitabayashi

Representative Director and President, Chief Executive Officer
The Norinchukin Bank

Masanori Kobayashi

Senior Research Fellow
Sasakawa Peace Foundation

Michio Kondoh

Professor
Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University

Keisuke Midori

Chief Researcher
CSV Strategy Department
Kirin Holdings Company, Limited

Toshiro Mitsuyoshi

President and Representative Director
Sumitomo Forestry Co., Ltd.

Masaki Moro

Climate Change and Sustainability Services
Partner, APAC Nature Lead
EY

Mika Nabeshima

Managing Executive Officer
Group Chief Sustainability Officer
Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc.

Yumi Nakano

Operating Officer
Sustainability Promotion Department
Corporate Communication Department
Tokyu Fudosan Holdings Corporation

Akihiko Nishi

Sustainability Department
General Manager
Nissui Corporation

Shougo Ohishi

CSO Executive Officer
Meiji Holdings Co., Ltd.

Naoya Okada

Executive Officer Human Resources and Sustainability
AEON CO., LTD.

Chisato Onda

Executive Officer General Manager of the Corporate Sustainability
Corporate Sustainability Division
MITSUI & CO., LTD.

Hajime Onojima

Executive Officer Head of Technology Research Institute
Senior General Manager, Technology Division
Obayashi Corporation

Kenta Oshima

CSV Strategy Department
General Manager
Kirin Holdings Company, Limited

Yuji Saito

Representative Director, Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer
Japan Airlines Co., Ltd.

Kayoko Sakai

Chief Culture Officer & Chief Sustainability Officer,
Senior Managing Executive Officer
Sompo Japan Insurance Inc.

Yukiko Sakai

Executive Officer and Group Chief Sustainability Officer
Daiichi Life Group, Inc.

Yusuke Sato

Sustainability Department
General Manager
Umios Corporation

Harumichi Seta

Sustainability Management Division
Senior General Manager,Climate & Nature Lead, Sustainability Management Division
SUNTORY HOLDINGS LIMITED

Hidetoshi Tahara

Sustainability Advisory Leader
Senior Officer, Partner
PricewaterhouseCoopers Japan LLC

Masayuki Takanashi

Group Chief Sustainability Officer(CSuO)
SUMITOMO MITSUI FINANCIAL GROUP

Hiroaki Takaoka

Senior Executive Officer General Manager, Corporate Strategy Department (Business Partnerships & Investment Strategy), CSV Strategy
Kirin Holdings Company, Limited

Miyoko Tanaka

Public Affairs, Communications & Sustainability
Vice President
The Coca-Cola (Japan) Company, Limited

Yasuhiro Tawara

President & CEO
Geosphere Environmental Technology Corp.

Yuko Tsutsui

Managing Executive Officer
Chief Executive of Sustainability & Transformation Headquarters
Chairperson of Sustainability Strategy Committee,
Executive Chief of Environmental Management (ECEM)
Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line)

Yutaka Yamashita

Department Manager
Management Strategy Planning Headquarters
Sustainability Coordination Department
DAIWA HOUSE INDUSTRY CO., LTD.

N. Chandrababu Naidu

Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh

Astrid Schomaker

Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

Peter Thomson

United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean

Paul Polman

Business Leader, Investor, and Philanthropist

Grethel Aguilar

Director General, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

Yana Gevorgyan

Convener and Director, Group on Earth Observations (GEO) Secretariat

Tony Goldner

Chief Executive Officer, Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD)

Mark Gough

Executive
CEO
Capitals Coalition

Marco Lambertini

Convener and Executive Chair,
Nature Positive Initiative (NPI)

Dorothy Maseke

Head, Africa Nature-based Solutions Alliance (ANCA) Secretariat

Satya Tripathi

Secretary-General, Global Alliance for a Sustainable Planet (GASP)

Lee Howell

the Executive Director of the Villars Institute

Esther An

Chief Sustainability Officer
City Developments Ltd.

Stuart Anstee

Executive Director
Nature Positive Landscapes Initiative

Helen Crowley

Director of Strategy
Nature Positive Landscapes Initiative

Gavin Edwards

Executive Director
Nature Positive Initiative

Franck Gbaguidi

Managing Director, Global Sustainability
Eurasia Group

Nitin Gupta

CEO and Co-founder
Attero Recycling Pvt Ltd

Pallavi Kalita

Asia Lead for Business for Nature
Conservation International (APAC)

Clea Kaske-Kuck

Director, Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement
World Business Council for Sustainable Development

Jean Lemire

Special Envoy for Climate Change, Nordic and Arctic Affairs
Government of Québec

Hanh Nguyen

Ocean Industries Lead
World Economic Forum

Grazielle Parenti

EVP Sustainability
Vale

Gemma Parkes

Head of Communications
Nature Positive Initiative

Ted Schmitt

Senior Director of Conservation
Ai2

Yoko Watanabe

Director, Nature and Environment
Asian Development Bank

Eleanor Whittle

Founder and Managing Director
Alopias Earth

Programme at a Glance

The Global Nature Positive Summit 2026 brings together leaders from business, finance, governments, science and civil society to accelerate action to halt and reverse nature loss.

Day1

Sets the scene for the Summit, focusing on what Nature Positive means and why it matters for economies and societies. Morning plenary sessions will explore the roles of business, finance and sub-national governments, highlighting leadership, responsibility and long-term vision. In the afternoon, discussions will move toward action, examining the business and social case for Nature Positive, credible strategies for delivery, and links with climate and circular economy agendas. Parallel thematic sessions and informal “Bento Sessions” will enable deeper exchange across sectors and themes.

Day2

Focuses on delivering Nature Positive outcomes at scale. Morning sessions will address key enablers, including measurement, credible communication and the role of technology. The afternoon will highlight place-based and systems approaches, from value chains to landscapes, jurisdictions and the ocean, before closing with a synthesis of key messages and next steps.

Beyond plenary sessions, the Summit features thematic parallel session, high-level closed meetings, side events, side program(exhibitions) and partner networking. A post-Summit landscape excursion on Day 3 will connect global discussions to real-world Nature Positive action in Kumamoto.

Objective

at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity’s COP17 to review progress on their landmark agreement, the Nature Positive Summit aims at showcasing nature-positive strategies and outcomes with a particular focus on the contributions of the private sector and local governments to the GBF and its Nature Positive mission.

The Nature Positive Summit will focus on accelerating the efforts in implementing the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), which was agreed by 196 countries in 2022 with a commitment to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030. As governments will be meeting in October 2026 in Yerevan, Armenia, at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity’s COP17 to review progress on their landmark agreement, the Nature Positive Summit aims at showcasing nature-positive strategies and outcomes with a particular focus on the contributions of the private sector and local governments to the GBF and its Nature Positive mission.

About Summit

Dates

July 14 - 15,2026

(July 16 for excursion)

Hosting city

Kumamoto City, Japan

＊Supported by: Kumamoto International Convention and Tourism Bureau

Venue

Kumamoto Jo Hall

3-40, Sakuramachi, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto-city, Kumamoto, 860-0805

Official Language

English and Japanese

Organizer

Nature Positive Initiative(NPI)

Japan Committee for IUCN

Co-organizers

ICLEI-Japan

Ministry of the Environment, Government of Japan

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

Summit Founding Partners Committee

Incooperation with

Nikkei Business Publications, Inc.

Supported by

Japan Conference for 2030 Global Biodiversity Framework

Japan Business Initiative for Biodiversity

KEIDANREN（Japan Business Federation）

Keidanren Nature Conservation Council

Financial Services Agency

UN Global Compact – Japan

The Summit was announced by the Nature Positive Initiative, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Japan Committee, and ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability Japan, with the support of the Government of Japan, Kumamoto City, the Nature Conservation Society of Japan (NACS-J), Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), IUCN International, ICLEI International and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), with Nikkei Business Publications engaged as the summit manager.

Official Side Events Program

The Global Nature Positive Summit (GNPS) will host Official Side Events as an integral part of the official summit programme.
These sessions provide a platform for Japanese NGOs, local governments, research institutions, youth groups and other non-profit actors to deepen discussions and foster collaboration on Nature Positive action and the implementation of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).

Official Side Events are selected through an open call and review process and are scheduled within official time slots and venues of the Summit.
They are designed to complement plenary and thematic sessions, translating high-level dialogue into concrete practices and partnerships, in line with the format of international COP-style conferences.

Click here for details

Official Side Events Program

Exhibition “NATURE TECH!”

In recent years, “NATURE TECH”—the use of advanced technologies such as satellite sensing, AI, IoT, blockchain, and renewable energy to tackle global challenges like climate change and biodiversity loss—has been attracting growing attention. Through initiatives such as making natural capital visible, advancing conservation efforts, and increasing transparency in the flow of funds, momentum is building to accelerate companies’ sustainable management.

This event, “NATURE TECH!”, brings together practitioners from industry, government, academia, and civil society under the theme of “the use of technology and Resilience to halt nature loss and drive regeneration,” serving as a forum for sharing the latest case studies and fostering collaboration.

Those who purchase a paid ticket through this website will also be admitted to the exhibition “NATURE TECH!” with the same ticket.
Please note that separate registration is not required to enter the exhibition “NATURE TECH!”. However, viewing stage programs such as forums and symposiums held within the exhibition “NATURE TECH!” may require separate registration. For details, please visit the official “NATURE TECH!” exhibition website.

NATURE TECH!

Excursion Information

On Thursday, July 16, the day following the Summit, we will host a special excursion set in the rich natural and cultural landscapes of Kumamoto and Kyushu—carefully designed to align with the core themes and discussions of the Global Nature Positive Summit.
This excursion is conceived as an extension of the Summit itself. By visiting real places and engaging with local initiatives, participants will be able to experience firsthand how the ideas, commitments, and outcomes discussed during the Summit are reflected and implemented on the ground. It offers a rare opportunity to translate dialogue into lived understanding.
Four thematic courses will be offered, each closely connected to the Summit’s key agenda areas:

Nature – Experience the value of ecosystems through majestic mountains and lush landscapes
Satoyama – Learn from traditional landscapes that embody the coexistence of people and nature
River Basin – Explore how water connects ecosystems, communities, and local economies
ECO-DRR* – Gain insights into preparedness, adaptation, and living with natural risks
＊Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction

Four excursions, made possible only here in Kumamoto. Please see the button on the right for an overview of each tour.

Explore Excursions

Explore Excursions

Information for Participants

Information for participants, including registration, venue access, visa, accommodation, and on-site check-in, is available here.
Japan Airlines (JAL) is the Official Airline of the GLOBAL NATURE POSITIVE SUMMIT 2026. We encourage you to consider flying with JAL when planning your trip to Japan.

Click here for details

About
Organizer

Nature Positive Initiative

The Nature Positive Initiative gathers some of the world’ s largest sustainable business and finance coalitions; standards, disclosure and targets frameworks; global conservation organizations; and science, subnational governance and Indigenous knowledge networks, to drive alignment around use of the term ‘nature positive’ and support broader, longer-term efforts to deliver nature-positive outcomes. The Nature Positive Initiative is reinforced by the Nature Positive Forum, a group of more than 300 organizations and institutions that have committed to uphold the definition of Nature Positive by 2030 and pursue action to secure a nature positive world. Those interested in joining can apply to the Forum here ‒ or subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated.

IUCN Japan Committee (IUCN-J)

The IUCN Japan Committee (IUCN-J) promotes the vision, knowledge, and global standards of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Japan. Working across government, local authorities, businesses, NGOs, and the research community, IUCN-J supports biodiversity conservation and the sustainable use of nature, while fostering collaboration to advance nature-positive outcomes. At GNPS 2026, IUCN-J serves as a bridge between global dialogue and practical action in Japan as well as organizer for excursion program.

The Story Behind the GNPS Logo

Discover the concept and meaning behind the GNPS logo, inspired by Kumamoto’s landscapes and the global Nature Positive vision.

View The Story Behind the GNPS Logo

【About Press】

We will hold an informational session for members of the press who are interested in media coverage.
■Date & Time: Monday, June 22, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
■Format: Online＊Japanese Only
Please download the detailed information and media registration form from the link below, complete the required fields, and send it to us by email.
Upon receipt, a member of our public relations team will send you the URL for joining the session.
【Download the detailed information and media registration form here.】

＊ please subscribe to the Nature Positive Initiative newsletter and follow on LinkedIn, X or Bluesky.

About Kumamoto City

The venue of Global Nature Positive Summit 2026—Kumamoto City—is a "world-class groundwater city" with nature and urban functions coexisting in harmony. The pristine and abundant groundwater nurtured by Kumamoto’s natural environment—formed on the foundation of Mt. Aso’s volcanic activity, the connection between the upstream and downstream reaches of various rivers, and other diverse geographical features—supports the daily lives of 740,000 citizens. This groundwater also springs forth from Ezu Lake, located in the city center, providing an invaluable habitat for wildlife.
To carry forward the blessings of this biodiversity, Kumamoto City has long promoted cooperation at the landscape level stretching beyond administrative boundaries together with ten municipalities that share the same groundwater basin, along with citizens and businesses.
Furthermore, Kumamoto marks ten years since the major earthquake in 2016, having achieved creative reconstruction and drawing significant global attention amid the recent and continuing expansion of semiconductor-related companies.