Sustainable Development Archives

New York, NY, September 9, 2026— The United States Council for International Business (USCIB) announces Fairfield Bio, ServiceNow, and StudyFetch as its newest members.  

Fairfield Bio, headquartered in New York, built the world’s first trusted marketplace for non-human genomic data, unlocking the 99.9% of Earth’s species with no genomic sequence. Fairfield Bio joins USCIB for the organization’s expertise in biodiversity policy. 

ServiceNow, headquartered in Santa Clara, California, helps organizations connect AI, data, and workflows on one platform. ServiceNow joins USCIB for the organization’s expertise in digital, AI/tech policy, and government affairs. 

StudyFetch, based in Los Angeles, California, is a technology company building AI-native learning products that connect education with workforce readiness through Honen, its enterprise Agentic Learning Platform, and StudyFetch, which has supported more than 8 million students. StudyFetch joins USCIB for the organization’s expertise in digital and labor affairs policy. 

USCIB provides its members with unparalleled access to international policymakers and regulatory authorities to promote US business views and solutions on a wide range of issues – from taxation to AI to labor relations.  

About USCIB  

The United States Council for International Business (USCIB) powers the success of US business across the globe. Our members include US-based companies and professional services firms from every sector of the economy, with operations in every region of the world. As the US affiliate of leading international business organizations including Business at OECD (BIAC), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), and the International Organization of Employers (IOE), USCIB advances the US business perspective to policymakers and regulatory authorities worldwide and works to facilitate commerce, support sustainable development, and build trust in multilateral systems. USCIB is also the national guaranteeing and issuing association for ATA Carnets, a unified international customs document that allows for the temporary import and export of various types of goods into a foreign country without paying duties or taxes. Learn more at www.uscib.org. 

Agnes Vinblad in Nairobi for the seventh meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.

Agnes Vinblad, Senior Director, Environment and Sustainability at USCIB, represented member companies at the seventh meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI-7) under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), held August 4–12 in Nairobi, Kenya. The meeting brought together governments, business, civil society, and other stakeholders to advance negotiations ahead of the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) in Yerevan, Armenia (October 19–30), marking a key milestone before the conference. 

SBI-7 focused on assessing progress toward implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and preparing for the first global review at COP17. While action is underway across all 23 GBF targets, fewer than half of assessed national targets are on track, highlighting significant gaps as the 2030 deadline approaches. 

For US business, these negotiations are important because CBD outcomes increasingly shape national policies and regulatory frameworks across key markets, including natural resource management, land use, corporate reporting, and genetic resources. Although the United States is not a Party to the CBD, decisions still impact US companies through foreign regulation, reporting requirements, investment conditions, supply chains, and market access. 

Biodiversity finance and resource mobilization, which include barriers to scaling finance, the effectiveness of existing mechanisms, access to funding, and the future contributor base, was a major focus of talks in Nairobi. Parties remained divided on the balance between public and private finance and how responsibilities should be shared. While some progress was made, key issues remain unresolved and will return at COP17. 

Another key issue for SBI-7 was Digital Sequence Information (DSI) on genetic resources, including the Multilateral Mechanism for fair and equitable benefit-sharing and the COP16-agreed Cali Fund. Negotiations focused on governance, transparency, operational design, and private sector contributions. While progress was made, several issues remain open for COP17. 

SBI-7 outcomes set the stage for a heavy agenda in Yerevan, where COP17 will conduct the first global review of GBF implementation and consider ways to accelerate action through 2030, including on finance, capacity-building, and mainstreaming. 

USCIB will represent members for the full two weeks of negotiations at UN Biodiversity COP17 in Yerevan, Armenia this October. 

USCIB delegation at UN Headquarters in New York

Building on the success of USCIB’s annual Geneva Week, USCIB held a “mini” New York UN Week June 9-11 to strengthen lines of communication between the private sector and key UN agencies and missions based in New York. Discussions focused on UN80 Reform, the upcoming UN High Level Week, the Post 2030 Agenda, the Pact for the Future, business access to the UN, and new Secretary General candidates and the selection process.

The USCIB delegation, which included member representatives from AB InBev, American Chemistry Council, BAT, DIAGEO, E&Y, Ferrero, HP, Kenvue, and Microsoft visited UN missions, including Argentina, Albania, Brazil, France, Italy, Jamaica, Namibia, Norway, and the United States. The delegation also meet with senior representatives from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA).

USCIB delegation with US Ambassador Dan Negrea at the US Mission to the UN

Notably, the delegation had the unique opportunity to engage directly with key representatives and co-facilitators of major intergovernmental processes, including those leading discussions on the Pact for the Future, UN80 reform workstreams, and the High Level Political Forum Ministerial Declaration. These exchanges offered valuable insight into the evolving direction of multilateral priorities and reform efforts at a critical juncture for the UN system.

USCIB delegation at the Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations in New York

Engagements with the United States Mission to the UN further enabled a constructive exchange on US perspectives on multilateral engagement, including evolving approaches such as “Trade Over Aid” and the implications for private sector participation in UN processes.

Across all meetings, discussions underscored a shared interest in strengthening structured and practical collaboration between the United Nations and the private sector, recognizing the important role of business in supporting implementation, innovation, and investment in advancing global priorities.