Cooperation and Partnerships

Major Group: Private Sector, Business and Industry

The major group of business and industry was identified in Agenda 21, General Assembly resolution 47/190 of 22 December 1992.

The private sector is represented by two representatives at the GBF Fund Council as observers.

Decision XII/10 - Business engagement

Global Partnership for Business and Biodiversity

Decision XI/7 - Business and biodiversity

The Global Partnership for Business and Biodiversity was established following Decision X/21, paragraphs 1d and 3a and Decision XI/7, paragraphs 1 and 5a to enhance business engagement in addressing biodiversity loss. The Partnership currently includes 21 national and regional initiatives, each working to promote biodiversity action within the business sector. Functioning as a network of networks, the Global Partnership facilitates the exchange of good practices and joint projects, and contributes to select COP-mandated activities. Its overarching goal is to increase the number of companies reducing their negative impact—or achieving a net-positive impact—on biodiversity, while influencing broader economic systems.

The role of the business community

We recognized that a re-linking of biodiversity, climate change, economics and poverty eradication is necessary to adequately address these global challenges. The business community should seize opportunities provided by biodiversity and should also integrate biodiversity concerns within its operations. The Business and Biodiversity Initiative will provide a forum for further enhancing the engagement of the business community towards the objectives of the Convention. The high-level segment of the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties should take this issue again in order to review progress achieved.

Minister Sigmar GABRIEL (2008)