Introducing Marguerite Culot, Co-Chair of the Target Setting Working Group
We are delighted to welcome Marguerite Culot, Biodiversity Expert at Groupe Caisse des Dépôts, as the new Target Setting Working Group co-chair at the Finance for Biodiversity Foundation. With a distinguished career in sustainability financing and policy, Marguerite brings exceptional expertise, strategic vision, and a profound commitment to advancing biodiversity goals through the financial sector.
In this exclusive profile, we explore Marguerite’s vision for the future of biodiversity finance, her leadership approach, and the key priorities she identifies for the Target Setting Working Group. Join us as we gain insight into the aspirations and expertise of a leader committed to fostering impactful action for biodiversity.
1. Why do you believe target setting is a critical step for the finance sector to address biodiversity challenges, and what are the most significant opportunities to influence meaningful action?
Financial institutions have only been considering their impacts, dependencies and risks related to nature for a relatively short time (compared to climate change), whereas the subject is eminently more complex. To meet the challenges (which are colossal, as they require transformative change) and to move up a gear, it is necessary to move forward collectively, to innovate and test methodologies, tools, etc., but also to set targets in its own way but with a view to continuous improvement. Working together in a task force is essential to accelerate this process.
2. How has your professional experience to date prepared you to co-chair this group effectively?
Before joining the Caisse des Dépôts Group as a nature expert, I managed the programs of the Paris Financial Center Association and coordinated the mobilisation of the French FIs in the run-up to COP15. I’m a firm believer in the collective and coordinated mobilisation of all players, each leading the others in an ever more ambitious dynamic. It’s important to exchange questions and share feedback between peers. I want to continue what has already been brilliantly undertaken in previous years by the previous co-chair and Lucian by pursuing the same dynamic that brings meaning and ambition to the entire FfB Community!
3. What key outcomes or milestones will the target setting work towards achieving under your co-chairmanship, and how will you work with stakeholders to advance the group’s objectives to contribute towards broader systemic changes?
Much has already been done with and for asset managers, focusing on the assets listed last year. Today, I feel it is important to consider the particularities of other financial players, starting with asset owners, and above all, to broaden the spectrum of financial products, in the knowledge that we need to mobilise and act in all directions if we are to meet the KM GBF targets effectively. Some are already doing so and can share their experience with us so that together, we can think about new guidelines on which everyone can build their roadmap.
4. What are your aspirations for the future of biodiversity finance, and how can the Foundation help accelerate progress?
The way forward is to consider nature by reducing our impact on biodiversity and rethinking economic models so that they reinforce the prosperity of our societies—however diverse they may be—by supporting economic players and offering new, innovative financial products. It’s a long road ahead. The Foundation aims to show the way by inviting more and more players to commit to this path and face any obstacles together by staying mobilised. Stay tuned!
About the Target Setting Working Group
This working group is connected to the fourth Pledge commitment: setting targets. Members share experiences and new developments and explore science-driven global goals, targets, and frameworks.
Read more on this working group here.