Advancing Nature-Based Solutions: From Global Standards to Hong Kong and Back
Last week, Seneca Impact Advisors joined an interactive workshop co-organized by Civic Exchange, The Nature Conservancy, and Seneca Impact Advisors at the Hong Kong Maritime Museum. The session featured Hanif Falah, Nature-based Solutions Technical Officer at IUCN, who introduced the updated IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and guided participants through its application to local contexts. The workshop brought together experts and practitioners to explore how global NbS standards can strengthen Hong Kong’s approach to climate resilience and biodiversity while also informing global practice through local innovation. Through case studies and group discussions, participants gained practical insights into the eight criteria and 28 indicators that define the IUCN Standard, ensuring that NbS projects deliver measurable benefits for nature, people, and climate. Representing Seneca were Jean-Marc Champagne and Stanley Tsai, who contributed perspectives on aligning finance with nature-positive outcomes.
For Seneca, this engagement was more than a learning opportunity. It was a chance to reinforce our leadership in shaping the future of nature finance. Seneca’s mission is to bridge the gap between conservation and capital by creating pathways for investment in projects that restore ecosystems, strengthen community resilience, and deliver measurable climate benefits. We believe that rigorous frameworks like the IUCN Global Standard are essential for unlocking finance at scale. Standards provide clarity and credibility, enabling investors to trust that their capital is driving real impact. By embedding these principles into our investment strategies and project outcomes, Seneca helps ensure that nature-based solutions are not only ecologically sound but also financially viable.
Building on this momentum, Seneca convened a private strategy session with IUCN and Civic Exchange, organized by Kitty Tam, Programme Lead for Nature at Civic Exchange. This closed-door dialogue was joined by Charles Karangwa, Global Director for Nature-based Solutions at IUCN, alongside Benoit Thibodeau, Tonya G. Mason, Crystal Ma, Tze-wei Ng, Grace Hui, Stanley Tsai, and Jean-Marc Champagne. The discussion focused on sharing each organization’s work on NbS and nature-related projects and exploring innovative financing approaches. Participants examined why banks and corporates are increasingly interested in financing NbS and what incentives drive their engagement. The conversation also touched on assessment tools and new standards introduced by IUCN, as well as how financing can be structured through traditional investment models and mechanisms that recognize risk avoidance as a value driver. These exchanges highlighted the importance of creative financial solutions and collaborative frameworks to scale nature-positive outcomes.
Seneca remains committed to advancing nature finance through partnerships and standards that drive real-world impact. As we move forward, we aim to translate these frameworks and ideas into actionable projects that deliver ecological integrity, community benefits, and long-term financial sustainability. Our role is to connect global standards with local action and mobilize capital for nature-positive solutions across Asia-Pacific, ensuring that lessons learned in Hong Kong inform global practice and vice versa.
We extend our sincere thanks to Charles Karangwa and Hanif Falah from IUCN, and Kitty Tam from Civic Exchange for their leadership and collaboration. Their insights and commitment are helping shape the future of nature-based solutions and innovative financing across the region and beyond.
