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Sectors

Transportation

About this sector

Transportation through land, air and sea result in emissions of carbon dioxide as well as issues such as water, waste, noise. Shipping moves approximatly 80% of the worlds commodites.

Impacts

  • Infrastructure for transportation like roads, harbours and airports can threaten natural and important habitats.
  • Climate change through use of energy

Opportunities/Risks

  • Shipping transfers approximately three to five tons of ballast water internationally each year, this poses a threat to ecological stability by transferring harmful organisms.

Case Studies


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African magic mixed with cutting edge green technology

African magic mixed with cutting edge green technology

Elizabeth Dlamini, herbalist and skincare adviser to a whole of local women, has skin that glows. She beams as she explains why. “Here in the Royal Kingdom of Swaziland we proud of our plants that we use in our traditional beauty regimes. Our grandmothers taught us how to prepare cosmetics from the oil of the Marula nut”. Now, Ubuntu Natural is bringing Swaziland’s best-kept beauty secret to the international cosmetics market.

Biodiversity and Access to Affordable medicines

Biodiversity and Access to Affordable medicines

Recognizing the importance of medicinal plants offers a unique opportunity to link biodiversity, health and sustainable development. Biodiversity is the source of primary health care for the majority of the world’s population. The research and development of medicinal plants is thus a way to safeguard and advance health care, which is essential for much of the population. Moreover, the ethical sourcing of medicinal plants can play an important role in the conservation and sustainable use of these species and their ecosystems, as well as provide a significant avenue for local sustainable development.

Building local plant nurseries for the rehabilitation of quarries

Building local plant nurseries for the rehabilitation of quarries

As part of its quarry rehabilitation process, Lafarge has developed local plant nurseries that respect indigenous species and are adapted to the local environment. This initiative is part of broader methodologies and best practices 
developed by the company to optimize its quarry reclamation, with the final objective of strengthening the acceptability of its operations in the long run.

Implementing “zero impact” invoices

Implementing “zero impact” invoices

Committed to neutralize the environmental impacts associated with its paper invoicing process, EDP has engaged in a compensation program based on (1) life cycle assessment and (2) externalities compensation through agroforestry good practices that restore the ecosystem service originally impacted by invoicing activities.

Setting private natural heritage reserves

Setting private natural heritage reserves

Owning large natural reserves as part of its forestry activities in Brazil, Fibria has chosen to register its most biodiverse lands as part of the Brazilian-specific Private Natural Heritage Reserves scheme. Recognition of Fibria’s conservation efforts is expected to further increase public and stakeholder awareness on company conservation activities.


Tools and Mechanisms


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EU Business and Biodiversity Platform

EU Business and Biodiversity Platform

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/biodiversity/busin...

The EU Business and Biodiversity Platform is a unique facility where businesses can come together to share their experiences and best practices, learn from their peers, and voice their needs and concerns to the European Commission. The Platform aims to strengthen the link between the business sector and biodiversity conservation, in particular in the following six priority sectors: agriculture, food supply, forestry, non-energy extractive industry, finance, and tourism.

Global Biodiversity Information Facility

Global Biodiversity Information Facility

http://data.gbif.org

GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, was established in 2001 to take on a special set of tasks that will make it possible for policy- and decision-makers, research scientists and the general public all around the world to electronically access the world's supply of primary scientific data on biodiversity.
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

http://www.planttreaty.org

The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture is crucial in the fight against hunger and poverty and essential for the achievement of Millennium Development Goals 1 and 7. This website disseminates information on the ITPGRFA and its Multilateral System for Access and Benefit Sharing. It is meant to be a platform to distribute documents for the meetings of the Governing Body and its related committees and subcommittees and other information.
The International Institute for Sustainable Development – Reporting Services Division

The International Institute for Sustainable Development – Reporting Services Division

http://www.iisd.ca

The Institute provides a variety of multimedia informational resources for environment and sustainable development policymakers, including daily coverage of international negotiations, analyses, and photos. As the publisher of the Earth Negotiations Bulletin, IISD RS is recognized for its objectivity and issue expertise in the field of international environment and sustainable development policy.
Ethical Tea Partnership

Ethical Tea Partnership

http://www.ethicalteapartnership.org

The Ethical Tea Partnership is a non-commercial alliance of international tea companies, both large and small, who share a vision of a thriving tea industry that is socially just and environmentally sustainable. Together they account for more than 50 brands, which sell in over 100 countries Membership is open to any tea packing company selling tea in Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand

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Transportation

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