Partner profile
UpLINK & 1T.org
UpLink’s Innovation Ecosystem empowers Top Innovators to drive positive impact on the environment, society, and economy. position. 1t.org, the 1 trillion trees community, supports and empower companies and individuals to undertake nature conservation and restoration.
Location
Global
Category
Technology & nature-based solutions
UpLink is an initiative to support innovators, entrepreneurs and ‘eco-preneurs’ accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). UpLink is building innovation ecosystems around these much-needed entrepreneurs, bringing together investors, experts, and partner organizations. It forms part of the World Economic Forum (WEF). Throughout the year, UpLink runs innovation challenges to identify new innovators across different SDGs.
1t.org (1 trillion trees community), another part of the WEF, is an initiative to support and empower companies and individuals to undertake nature conservation and restoration.
Why is biodiversity and nature restoration important?
Biodiversity is declining faster than at any rate in human history – wildlife populations have fallen by 69% by 1970 according to the WWF.
We rely on nature for food, water, medicine, a stable climate, economic growth, among others. It is estimated that over half of global GDP is dependent on nature and more than 1 billion indigenous people & local communities rely on forests for their livelihoods.
The land and the ocean absorb more than half of all carbon emissions but nature is in crisis. Up to one million species are threatened with extinction, many within decades. Irreplaceable ecosystems like parts of the Amazon rainforest are turning from carbon sinks into carbon sources due to deforestation[1].
This requires substantial funding, according to the IUCN an extra $711 billion every year over this decade alone.
[1] https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/climate-issues/biodiversity
Why is Mercuria partnering with UpLink & 1t.org?
In 2023, Mercuria announced Silvania, our commitment to invest USD 500M to support nature restoration and biodiversity.
The existing nature restoration ecosystem cannot deliver the restoration at the scale and speed required and there are still significant capability and technology gaps.
We have partnered with Uplink and 1t.org to identify and support high-impact innovators aimed at advancing solutions to the biodiversity and climate crises.
What is the Biodiversity Challenge?
In April 2024, Mercuria and 1t.org launched the Biodiversity Challenge on the UpLink platform.
The challenge called for innovative ecopreneurial solutions that promote the conservation, protection, and restoration of biodiversity, while enabling the maintenance of services that are crucial for the health of terrestrial ecosystems.
The focus areas of this challenge include:
- Biodiversity monitoring and measurement
- Incentivizing demand and innovative financing for biodiversity
- Strengthening local value chains
Between 10-20 submissions will be selected as winners, recognized as Top Innovators, and become part of the UpLink Innovation Ecosystem, a curated programme designed for Founders, CEOs, Executive Directors, etc., which provides:
- Access: Opportunity to participate in select World Economic Forum and partner-led events, projects, and communities.
- Visibility: Global exposure via the Forum’s and UpLink’s digital media channels.
- Connections: Strategic introductions to select organizations in the Forum’s and UpLink’s networks.
- Targeted support: Including programming and support on technical, business, and operational matters.
2023 PARTNER PROFILES
ARC Marine
Forel
Natron
UpLink & 1t.org
Reporting areas
Governance
Planet
People
