BUSINESS AND BIODIVERSITY:

SCBD Engagement with Business

12 June 2012

Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity

PRESENTATION OUTLINE

• The Economy of Biodiversity

• What We are Doing

• Aichi Targets and NBSAPs

• The Nagoya Protocol

• Business Engagement

• Towards COP 11

THE ECONOMY OF BIODIVERSITY

• Biodiversity relatively poorly understood concept;

• Many companies do not understand their impact (or dependence) upon

biodiversity;

• Biodiversity varied and hard to quantify;

• Valuation exercises often rely on esthetic issues, lower meaning for a

company;

• Greenwashing;

• Inconsistencies among some of the guidance and standards;

• Difficult to take consistent action on a company-wide basis;

• Many of the impacts due to supply chains;

• Information management is also a huge problem (too much);

• Public policy can work against biodiversity-friendly actions;

• Market forces can also work against greener companies

THE ECONOMY OF BIODIVERSITY: Challenges from the Sustainable Development Perspective

• Important issues include: o financing through public-private partnerships;

o ensuring that the private sector undertakes measures to implement the “Green

Economy”;

o technology development and sharing;

o need for readily available information and consultation between all stakeholders

• Some specific issues that can help to address these issues include: o Encouragement of sustainable public procurement;

o Elimination of “perverse subsidies” and promotion of ecofriendly incentives (ie: through

taxes and other regulatory means);

o Enforcement of existing environmental regulations;

o Taking “externalities” into account in corporate assessments of activities;

o Sharing of information and best practices within and between parties;

o Ensuring robust standards and certification mechanisms exist but which are not

prohibitively expensive;

o Globally, creating a “level-playing field” where businesses are not penalized (by the

market) for pursuing eco-friendly policies

• A risk is countries running afoul of the WTO in the effort to nurture domestic

green industries, or eco-friendly processes becoming a “stalking-horse” for

protectionism

THE ECONOMY OF BIODIVERSITY: Rio+20 Proposals that Could Help Address These Challenges

• If measures successfully implemented, it should begin to see greater overall

sustainability practices by the business sector;

• Larger companies will likely be the first to be affected, but will ripple down

supply chains to smaller companies;

• Comprehensive acceptance means finding balance between development

and sustainability;

• Without this balance, it will be hard to get industry on board;

• Fair and transparent measures for implementation will be required;

• Ultimate goal is to create a sustainable “level-playing field” through mix of

positive and negative incentives.

THE ECONOMY OF BIODIVERSITY: Potential Impacts to the Economy and Business

WHAT WE ARE DOING

• The CBD is one of the so-called “Rio” Conventions • Biodiversity (CBD)

• Climate Change (UNFCCC)

• Desertification (UNCCD)

• Opened for signature on June 5, 1992

• Came into force on December 23, 1993

• Currently 193 parties to the Convention

• CBD Secretariat based in Montreal and currently

has a staff of 100+

THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

2010 CBD CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES

(COP 10) • Parties to the Convention agreed to a Strategic Plan

for 2011-2020

• The Decade of Biodiversity

• Plan includes 20 biodiversity targets

• The Aichi Targets

• The Aichi Targets are to be incorporated into National

Biodiversity Strategic Action Plans (NBSAPs)

AICHI TARGETS AND NBSAP

• 20 specific targets arranged by 5 strategic goals:

• Strategic Goal A: Address underlying causes of

biodiversity loss by mainstreaming biodiversity across

government and society

• Strategic Goal B: Reduce direct pressures on

biodiversity and promote sustainable use

• Strategic Goal C: To improve status of biodiversity by

safeguarding ecosystems, species and genetic diversity

• Strategic Goal D: Enhance benefits to all from

biodiversity and ecosystem services

• Strategic Goal E: Enhance implementation through

participatory planning, knowledge management and

capacity building

ACCESS AND BENEFITS SHARING

• The Nagoya Protocol provides a transparent legal

framework for the effective implementation of

one of the three objectives of the CBD

• The fair and equitable sharing of benefits

arising out of the utilization of genetic resources

AccessAccess to genetic resourcesto genetic resources

IN EXCHANGE

FOR:

Fair and equitable share of the Fair and equitable share of the benefitsbenefits derived derived from their utilizationfrom their utilization

The Parties called upon the SCBD Executive Secretary to:

• Encourage the establishment of national and regional business and biodiversity

initiatives

• Compile and disseminate information on best available practices for mainstreaming

ecosystem services

• Encourage the development and application of tools and mechanisms that can further

facilitate the engagement of business in integrating biodiversity conservation into their

practices

• Monitor implementation of private sector progress in mainstreaming ecosystem

services and assess the effectiveness of tools and mechanisms in use for this purpose

• Encourage businesses that support the Convention’s objectives in communicating their

biodiversity-relevant activities to their consumers, customers, and other stakeholders.

COP 10 BUSINESS DECISION

BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT:

STRATEGY (I)

• International Policy/Legislative Issues: • Helping to set the international agenda in terms of regulatory issues,

such as: • the elimination of perverse incentives;

• the restructuring of tax codes and incentive structures to favour more

ecofriendly industries;

• the enacting of legislation to protect certain key areas or provide for

sustainable use;

• setting of standards

• Encouragement of Market Pull:

• Sustainable public procurement • Can be required through legislation

• Corporate requirements of suppliers • Awareness raising campaign (ie: the business case for sustainability)

combined with pressure from consumers will help to create the

necessary conditions for business to make these demands

BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT:

STRATEGY (II)

• Facilitation of Information Flow: • Encourage companies to share best-practices;

• Case studies and various tools and mechanisms available to help companies;

• Problem is not a dearth of information (although there are gaps) but too much

information that companies can have trouble navigating;

• Streamlining the information and ensuring that companies know where to go

can help to alleviate this problem and allow for greater uptake

• Provision of Information and Services to Companies: • Many companies lack knowledge, time and resources to take advantage of the

information and tools available

• Civil society organizations, consultants and/or local authorities may be able to

help through direct training, resource augmentation or other services

• Want to create a level-playing field, but not something that is beyond the

means of small business.

BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT: IMPLEMENTATION GLOBAL PLATFORM FOR

BUSINESS AND BIODIVERSITY WEBSITE

• Platform for businesses to get information to assist in

mainstreaming biodiversity and raise awareness. • Case studies, tools/mechanisms, research, lists of events, etc

• Platform where businesses can ask questions and exchange ideas

• Capacity to host webinars and “ask the expert” events

• Phase 1 launched in early June 2011 (www.cbd.int/business)

• Phase 2 launched in December 2011

BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT: IMPLEMENTATION ENHANCED OUTREACH TO BUSINESS

• The Secretariat is contacting key business partners in a wide

variety of sectors to encourage them to adopt provisions of the

Convention and share their experiences

• Through the website, newsletters, workshops and other events,

the Secretariat hopes to reach other businesses (especially SMEs)

further down the supply chain

• Will engage leading companies globally to assist in this endeavor

• Related to this, the Secretariat is also looking at the issue of

Green Public Procurement as a way of encouraging further

demand for eco-friendly products

BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT: IMPLEMENTATION NATIONAL WORKSHOPS

• Targeting key economies and major business centres

• Primary target audience is business community

• Structure will include:

• Presentations (CBD, Government, Business, NGOs, etc)

• Panel discussions

• Sector based break-out sessions

• Networking

• Site visits

BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT: IMPLEMENTATION BUSINESS AND BIODIVERSITY INITIATIVES

• Encourages business and government engagement on biodiversity

• Composed of companies, government officials, academia, civil

society (as well as sub-national entities)

• Provides tools and advice to businesses

• SCBD aiming to stimulate creation of councils globally • Creation of network to share ideas and

best practices, announce events, etc

• Current initiatives in Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the

Netherlands and EU • Others under development

BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT: IMPLEMENTATION GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP FOR BUSINESS AND

BIODIVERSITY

• Stemming from decision X/21/1d and X/21/3a

• The Global Partnership links together the national and regional

initiatives with CBD Secretariat as the Global Focal point

• Partnership will encourage synergies and sharing of best practices

amongst the national and regional initiatives

• Various working groups and virtual meetings of the Partnership

• First Meeting of the Partnership in Tokyo (December 2011)

• Second Meeting scheduled during COP 11 in Hyderabad, India

(October 2012)

• Targeting o Necessary to ensure that we reach a range of companies across all sectors;

o Large “champions” can help set the example;

o Important to target SMEs and Supply Chains

• Leveraging o As Partnership develops, limited number of players and resources;

o Important to ensure that ideas and best practices shared across Partnership;

o Encourage engagement in common projects

• Synergizing o While each country has its own needs, consistent messaging globally is important;

o Common approaches can allow for greater impact and credibility;

o Particularly important for multinationals, who will want to ensure supply chain in

different countries all on the same page;

o Work closely with established global NGOs and IGOs to ensure maximum penetration to

companies at regional and national levels

BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT: IMPLEMENTATION GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP FOR BUSINESS AND

BIODIVERSITY

BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT: IMPLEMENTATION SYNERGIES WITH OTHER CONVENTIONS

• Biodiversity issues can sometimes be perceived as “competing” with other environmental concerns

• The Business Unit of the SCBD is working with a variety of

partners including the other Rio Conventions

• Rio Conventions Pavilion features business day (Rio+20—June 18)

• Pavilion is now present at all COP meetings

• Positive actions in one area can have positive effects in others

TOWARDS COP 11

• The next COP will take place in Hyderabad in October 2012

• The Secretariat is in the process of planning a number of

business events around COP including: • High level meetings between business

leaders and government officials

• A green business exhibition

• Meeting of the National Business

and Biodiversity Councils

• COPs are very important in the life of the Convention, and

businesses from around the world are strongly encouraged to

participate

• As our planning continues, we will post updates on the Global

Platform Website

COP 11 SUSTAINABILITY

SOLUTIONS MARKETPLACE

DATE: October 15-26, 2012

• Marketplace will bring progressive companies together;

• It will be open to all businesses and related interests that have innovative green

(biodiversity-friendly) solutions;

• Companies from across India and around the world are expected to participate;

• Participation includes: Exhibition space (whole or part of booth space 3m X 3m)

Featured in promotional materials for the exhibition

Opportunity to make presentations to highlight your company's innovative solutions

Automatic entry into the COP 11 business and biodiversity awards competition

BUSINESS AND BIODIVERSITY AWARDS

• To highlight particularly innovative solutions and best practices and encourage

wider private sector participation in COP 11

• All private sector participants will be automatically entered into the competition

Award Types Overall CBD Biodiversity Sustainability Solution Award:

Participant’s Choice Sustainability Award

COP President’s Award

THANK YOU

Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity

413 Saint Jacques Street, Suite 800

Montreal, QC, H2Y 1N9, Canada

Tel: +1 514 288 2220

Fax: + 1 514 288 6588

Email: secretariat@cbd.int

www.cbd.int/business