This year marks more than a decade since the world came together in Paris to adopt the landmark climate agreement. To celebrate this milestone and chart the way forward, France is mobilising international partners, and the official kick-off of this global effort will take place at Building Bridges 2025 in Geneva.

On Tuesday, 30 September, from 12:00-13:00, Building Bridges will welcome Benoît Faraco, French Ambassador in charge of climate change negotiations, carbon-free energy, and climate risk prevention, to open a new chapter of international cooperation for climate and finance.

Why now?

The 10-year anniversary of the Paris Agreement comes at a time when the financial repercussions of climate change are increasingly priced into assets, and when capital must move decisively to accelerate the transition.

As the French mission in Geneva notes, “France is mobilising the international community to keep the promise of Paris alive, with renewed ambition and action.”

Why Building Bridges?

Building Bridges 2025 (30 Sept – 2 Oct) is a grand stage for this global kick-off because it brings together leaders from finance, government, civil society, and international organisations to turn dialogue into investable action. We are delighted to host this milestone, to reaffirm our platform as the place where global sustainable finance meets international Geneva.

What to expect

The kick-off with Ambassador Benoît Faraco will set the tone for a week that brings urgency and opportunity together. As part of the session “Paris Agreement Ten Years On: and the Path to COP30,” finance professionals, policymakers, and innovators will not only engage in honest, evidence-based problem solving, but also evaluate progress since Paris, reflect on lessons learned in sustainable finance, and explore strategies to accelerate climate action over the next decade.

By bridging government action with private investment, the discussion will highlight how to price risk differently, scale resilient investments, and safeguard prosperity in a warming world.

Handing the Baton

The anniversary is not just a single event but the start of a series of international dialogues leading into COP30 in Belém, Brazil. From Geneva to global capitals, these gatherings will create momentum to close the widening climate finance gap and mobilise capital at scale.

At Building Bridges, this global relay takes on a symbolic dimension: the baton will be passed to Dmitry Mariyasen, Deputy Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), who will host the next milestone event in this anniversary series.

What began in 2015 as a promise in Paris must now translate into credible delivery, accelerated investment, and scaled solutions. Building Bridges 2025 is proud to launch this series, ensuring the next decade of climate action is defined not by pledges, but by progress.