A group of more than 200 leaders representing global financial institutions, governments and corporations from around the world have jointly released a \u201cCall to Action,\u201d calling for the international community to heighten efforts to protect biodiversity, reduce biodiversity loss, and improve the standards of biodiversity mitigation efforts.<\/p>\n
The \u201cCall to Action\u201d was released by the Business and Biodiversity Offsets Programme<\/a> (BBOP) during this year\u2019s Natural Capital Week<\/a> (November 26-30) when leading organizations from around the world have gathered in Paris, France, to discuss a variety of issues related to sustainable development.<\/p>\n The BBOP is an international collaboration among businesses, governments, financial institutions and civil society organizations, promoting sustainable development to achieve no net loss or a net gain of biodiversity.<\/p>\n The BBOP\u2019s model of sustainable development follows the mitigation hierarchy, defined as avoidance, minimization, rehabilitation\/restoration and offset.<\/p>\n \u201cGovernments and businesses face a true dilemma: How to support development, so people have access to food, materials, energy, infrastructure and jobs, while conserving biodiversity?\u201d Kerry ten Kate<\/a>, the director of the BBOP, said in a statement.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone is looking for practical approaches. The BBOP tools and resources provide the know-how, but many of our colleagues have issued the urgent \u2018Call to Action\u2019 to urge developers and decision-makers to act,\u201d she continued.<\/p>\n The \u201cCall to Action\u201d comes at a time when biodiversity loss is increasing due to the destruction of animal habitats by human activity and climate change. The World Wildlife Fund\u2019s 2018 Living Planet Report<\/a> shows an overall decline of 60 percent in species\u2019 populations between 1970 and 2014.<\/p>\n To this point, the major driver of biodiversity loss has been habitat loss due to human development and infrastructure projects, but these losses are expected to continue and will likely become more extreme as climate change worsens.<\/p>\n Some experts predict a biodiversity crisis that could take millions of years<\/a> to recover from, impacting myriad species, from frogs<\/a> to birds<\/a> and insects<\/a>, and everything in between.<\/p>\n The \u201cCall to Action\u201d provides guidelines for governments, corporations, financial institutions, multilateral banks, conservation organizations, academia and members of civil society to follow in order to protect biodiversity. It also asks that individuals hold their institutions to account to ensure that the guidelines are followed with transparency and integrity.<\/p>\n This is the BBOP\u2019s message<\/a>:<\/p>\n \u201cThis Call to Action urges action by the international community, governments, companies and civil society to step up efforts to reduce biodiversity loss and improve the standard of mitigation measures, including biodiversity offsets. It sets out the vision<\/b> of appropriate development in the right place planned to achieve a net gain in biodiversity, and undertaken with integrity to a high standard. It sets out specific actions<\/b> for governments, companies, financial institutions, multilateral banks and other donors, conservation organisations and academia, and members of civil society.\u201d (emphasis in original)<\/p>\n Ray Victurine<\/a>, the director of business and conservation initiative at the Wildlife Conservation Society, is optimistic about the future of biodiversity and the efforts of organizations like the BBOP.<\/p>\n \u201c\u201cThere are already encouraging results in improving the mitigation of development impacts on biodiversity,\u201d he said in a statement.<\/p>\n \u201cIn 2014, 39 countries had existing laws or policies requiring that \u2018No Net Loss\u2019 or even a \u2018Net Gain\u2019 of biodiversity occur through the economic development process. Today, over 100 countries require or enable similar measures,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n Victurine emphasized that important steps to mitigate biodiversity loss are already being taken by institutions across the world. He noted that 94 financial institutions and members of the Equator Principles Association<\/a> have established safeguard conditions for project finance that require no net loss of natural habitat and a net gain in critical habitat. Sixty major businesses have also made public commitments or have stated aspirations to protecting biodiversity.<\/p>\n