The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has officially joined the ENACT Partnership (Enhancing Nature-based Solutions for an Accelerated Climate Transformation), marking a significant expansion of the coalition into the field of inclusive and sustainable industrial development. The announcement was made in Washington DC on 17 April 2026, reinforcing growing global efforts to scale up Nature-based Solutions (NbS) to address interconnected climate, biodiversity, and land degradation challenges.
The ENACT Partnership was launched at COP27 in 2022 by the Egyptian Presidency in collaboration with the Government of Germany and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It brings together governments and non-state actors to strengthen financing, innovation, and implementation of NbS, which focus on protecting, restoring, and sustainably managing ecosystems to address major environmental and societal challenges.
UNIDO’s entry into the partnership is expected to strengthen the link between nature conservation and industrial development. Industry and agrifood systems, which account for nearly two-thirds of global greenhouse gas emissions, represent a major opportunity for transformation. By integrating NbS into production and supply chains, industries can reduce environmental impact, improve efficiency, create green jobs, and build resilience while aligning sustainability with economic growth.
UNIDO emphasized that its mandate on inclusive and sustainable industrial development positions it as a bridge between the NbS agenda and the private sector. The organization aims to help scale nature-positive practices across industrial ecosystems, particularly in emerging and developing economies, while supporting innovative and inclusive green growth models.
IUCN welcomed UNIDO’s participation, noting that its expertise in industrial systems will enhance ENACT’s ability to scale NbS solutions for climate transformation. The partnership is expected to accelerate coordinated action on climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation, while delivering benefits for both ecosystems and communities.
A key focus of ENACT is addressing the major financing gap for Nature-based Solutions. Despite their proven effectiveness, NbS face a global investment shortfall estimated at USD 4.1 trillion by 2050, with private finance still contributing a small share. UNIDO will support efforts to mobilize investment by working with financial institutions and developing mechanisms that reduce risk and improve access to funding for industrial-scale NbS projects.
The partnership also builds on IUCN’s role in developing global standards for Nature-based Solutions and its work within international climate and biodiversity frameworks. ENACT now includes 27 partners collaborating to harmonize fragmented initiatives, strengthen policy dialogue, and advance a shared global agenda on NbS.
UNIDO has already been integrating Nature-based Solutions into areas such as eco-industrial parks, circular economy models, agro-industry, regenerative agriculture, and bio-based innovation systems. Its formal participation in ENACT provides a multilateral platform to expand these efforts and collaborate more closely with global partners to accelerate nature-positive industrial transformation.
