WGRI Recommendation
. Engagement with business
4/7.Engagement with business
The Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Review of Implementation of the Convention
1.Requests the Executive Secretary to compile information from on-going national, regional and international business and biodiversity initiatives inter alia on how they promote full integration of the value of biodiversity and ecosystem services, addressing the risks to sustainable use of biodiversity caused by biodiversity loss, into private sector activities making use of inter alia the TEEB for business recommendations; building on information collected under decision X/44 for consideration at the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties;
2.Recommends that the Conference of the Parties at its eleventh meeting adopts a decision along the following lines:
The Conference of the Parties
Noting that the engagement with business must [take into account] [take responsibility for] the three objectives of the Convention, its Protocols and the rights and needs of indigenous and local communities,
Recalling
decision X/2, in which it called upon businesses, amongst other stakeholders, to undertake actions which would lead to the successful implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets,
Also recalling its decision X/44, in which it called for the identification and elimination, phase out or reform of perverse incentives that drive biodiversity loss while also establishing policy contexts that will enhance biodiversity-friendly activities,
Further recalling its decision X/21, in which it called upon Governments and business to take specific steps to actively encourage greater private-sector engagement with the Convention,
Recognizing, in particular, the importance of paragraph 1 of decision X/21, in which it called upon Governments to support "the establishment of national and regional business and biodiversity initiatives and to strive towards a global partnership on business and biodiversity by inviting ongoing initiatives and other stakeholders to be part of the business and biodiversity initiative" and "to develop ongoing dialogue with the business community in relation to biodiversity considerations and activities",
Understanding that the facilitation and development of these national and regional business and biodiversity initiatives can help businesses: to better understand biodiversity and the business case for its conservation; build capacity; share best practices, as appropriate; and help facilitate dialogue amongst all stakeholders, as well as situating biodiversity in the larger context of sustainable development,
Noting the contribution of the first meeting of the global partnership on business and biodiversity for furthering the goals of the global partnership as well as helping to facilitate the development of various national and regional business and biodiversity initiatives,
Also recognizing the importance of paragraphs 2 (b)-(e) of decision X/21, in which it called upon business to "develop and apply processes and production methods that minimize or avoid negative impacts on biodiversity",
Recalling
decision X/21, which calls upon the Executive Secretary in collaboration with relevant organizations and initiatives to compile, analyse, and disseminate tools and other mechanisms through various means to businesses and other stakeholders, building on information being collected pursuant to decision X/44,
Recalling decision VII/14 adopting the guidelines on biodiversity and tourism development and underlining its importance for the tourism business sector,
Noting the Cha-am Declaration on Biodiversity which emanated from the Asia Regional Forum on Biodiversity, and which recognizes that nature is the foundation of life and that protecting nature is the joint task of business, government, academia, and other multi-stakeholders in society,
Taking note of the revised Keidanren Declaration of Biodiversity, Guide to Action Policy,
Also taking note of the work of the various voluntary standards and certification bodies such as (inter alia) the Forest Stewardship Council, the Marine Stewardship Council, Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International, the Rainforest Alliance and LIFE institute,
Noting the links between biodiversity and other aspects of sustainable development and the importance of emphasizing the responsibility of business to take action to address biodiversity loss, as well as climate change and desertification,
Recognizing the importance of continuing to call upon businesses to embrace and act upon the overall goals of the Convention and its Protocols, to help them to understand and implement the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, and to help them understand how biodiversity fits into the overall sustainable development agenda,
1.Calls upon businesses to continue liaising with national Governments, civil society organizations, academia, and other stakeholders, to formulate relevant actions for biodiversity conservation for sustainable use of ecosystem services and for the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources, which align with the Strategic Plan and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets;
2.Further calls upon businesses to fully consider the revised 2012 International Finance Corporation (IFC) Performance Standards which incorporates sustainability standards;
3.Invites Parties:
(a)To promote the full integration of biodiversity and ecosystem services values into private sector activities, taking into account the findings and recommendations of the TEEB for business report and the work undertaken in the framework of national ecosystem assessments;
(b) To ratify and implement the Nagoya Protocol in order to establish legal certainty and transparency for providers and users of genetic resources;
(c)To consider, according to priorities and national circumstances, policies and legislation that halt biodiversity loss and reduces incentives including subsidies that are harmful to biodiversity in government procurement policies and including biodiversity impacts;
(d)To take into account according to priorities and national circumstances other policies that halt biodiversity loss, such as, inter alia:
(i)Encouraging consideration of best practices for voluntary standards and certification schemes that respect the goals and objectives of the Convention and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets that will help incentivize the sustainable management of landscapes and seascapes, and will help companies (particularly small and medium sized enterprises) assess and effectively address their impact upon biodiversity and on indigenous and local communities;
(ii)Encouraging, and assisting with (as appropriate), the establishment of monitoring and reporting frameworks to provide motivation for compliance with sustainability policies and standards;
(iii)Reducing incentives including subsidies that are harmful to biodiversity in accordance with decision X/44;
4.Encourages businesses:
(a)To continue to undertake actions which would be instrumental to the implementation of the Strategic Plan and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets in accordance with decision X/2 and national policies, and to report on obstacles encountered in doing this;
(b)To urge their supply chains, and other stakeholders, to report on progress made in mainstreaming the objectives of the Convention and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, including their biodiversity strategy, policies and action plans;
(c)To analyse the impacts, dependencies, opportunities and risks of individual sectors as they relate to biodiversity and ecosystem services taking into account the findings and recommendations of the TEEB for Business Report;
(d)To adopt policies which respect the goals and objectives of the Convention and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets including methods for sustainable consumption and production and use of voluntary standards and certification schemes that incorporate effective safeguards for biodiversity, as appropriate;
(e)To align their investments in support of biodiversity conservation and sustainable use;
(f)To continue the dialogue with government on all relevant aspects of the national and international biodiversity agenda through the national business and biodiversity initiatives and other means, so as to ensure that the impacts of business on biodiversity are duly taken into account;
5.Requests the Executive Secretary, subject to the availability of resources and in collaboration with relevant organizations:
(a)To continue to facilitate the dialogue among business, government and other stakeholders through ongoing support of national, regional, and international business and biodiversity initiatives using the Global Partnership as a framework;
(b)To compile information on best practices that incorporates all three objectives of the Convention and those of its two Protocols and facilitate the engagement of businesses, governments and other stakeholders in adopting such practices through various means including the Global Platform for Business and Biodiversity website, newsletters and specific, targeted workshops;
(c)To continue to work with partners to further refine the analysis of the various tools and mechanisms and thereby help companies (including small and medium-sized enterprises) understand, assess and adopt cost effective, credible and impactful solutions for managing biodiversity risk;
(d)To help raise awareness about the drivers of biodiversity loss by collaborating with appropriate national, regional and international partners, including national and regional initiatives thus assisting businesses (including small and medium-sized enterprises) build capacity to fit biodiversity as well as accountability into the overall sustainable development agenda.