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There has been significant global progress in advancing gender equality, including improvement in women’s access to education, increased representation in leadership positions, and a reduction of women living in extreme poverty. Yet, critical genders gaps remain. In some areas, gender equality initiatives, programs and targets are facing setbacks, and the barriers women encounter continue to widen these gaps.

The world is currently undergoing multiple, interconnected, expected and unexpected transformations – economic, political, and social. And emerging markets and developing economies are coming under strains that threaten to stall – and even backtrack – development gains. Simply put, the need for sustainable investment – and the opportunity to have impact – is more urgent than ever. 

Fifty years ago in 1975, leaders from the industrialised world gathered in Paris to discuss the 1973 oil crisis, financial shock, and subsequent global recession that knew no borders. Canada joined the following year. What has since become known as the G7 saw its member countries agree to gather annually to discuss the world’s most pressing political and economic challenges. The effort highlighted global cooperation.

In a 1789 letter, Benjamin Franklin referenced that nothing in this world is said to be certain, “except death and taxes”. As the impact of climate change intensifies – hotter temperatures, rising sea levels and more extreme temperatures that know no border – we are introduced to life’s third certainty, or better yet unavoidable truth. Climate adaptation.

Last week, world leaders from government and business gathered in Azerbaijan for COP29 – the second most attended COP – to discuss global progress on addressing climate change.

We need to radically change the way we value nature and how we align finance with conservation goals. This was a headline message for the financial sector at COP16 - the UN Biodiversity Conference that recently welcomed global leaders in Cali, Colombia.