The Case for Biodiversity

Luc Bas- Director IUCN European Regional Office

The Shift - 30th January 2020, Brussels

1

The Case for Nature

2

About the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

Biodiversity loss crisis

Opportunities and solutions for nature protection and restoration

IUCN Business and Biodiversity Workprogram

IUCN Congress

The Case for Ecosystems

International Union for the Conservation of Nature:The world’s largest environmental network

IUCN@70Seven decades of vision and impact

5INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE

1948

1964

2012

1996

1988

1980

1978

International Union for the Protection of Nature

established, Fontainebleau, France

1960

Biodiversity Loss Crisis

6Source: BBC, May 2019

Biodiversity loss and climate change

7

Source: Nature is too big to fail, PwC & WWF, January 2020

8

European trends and outlook

The European environment - State and outlook 2020

The global risk landscape has changed2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Asset price collapse Extreme weather

Slowing Chinese economy (<6%)

Climate action failure

Chronic disease Natural disaster

Financial crisis Biodiversity loss

Global governance gapHuman-made environmental disasters

Asset price collapse Climate action failure

Retrenchment from globalization (developed)

Weapons of mass destruction

Oil price spike Biodiversity loss

Chronic disease Extreme weather

Fiscal crises Water crisis

Top 5

Glo

bal R

isks:

likelih

ood

Top 5

Glo

bal R

isks:

impact

Economic Environmental Geopolitical Societal Technological Source: WEF 2020

WEF Global Risk Report launched in Davos 2020

Biodiversity loss drivers

10

Global Risks – Likelihood and Impact Drivers of biodiversity loss

Changes in land use and sea use -

Exploitation of organisms

Pollution

Introduction of non-indigenous species

Climate change

Source: Global Risk Report, WEF January 2020

Economic impact

Value of ecosystem services loss

4 - 20 trillion US$ per year due to land-cover change. (1997 - 2011)

6 - 11 trillion US$ per year from land degradation. (1997 - 2011)

Implications• Risk of environmental collapse, resulting from natural capital depletion

11

Source: Nature is too big to fail, PwC & WWF, January 2020

Source: Making finance serve nature, Finance watch May 2019

Best estimates are we have a 10-year window to reverse current trends.

The world recognises urgent action is required

Many stakeholders, including some businesses, are calling for a new deal for nature and people.

• Emergency call to action will be featured at a series of events: WEF meeting, IUCN Congress, UN Summit on Nature, CBD COP, UNFCCC, etc..

• New biodiversity targets will be agreed by governments at the CBD COP in October, and they will have implications for business.

New goals for biodiversity need to be on par with climate.

• IUCN’s position is that any Post-2020 framework must tackle threats (direct pressures) to biodiversity, and their underlying causes, ensuring delivery of the benefits of biodiversity and ecosystem services to people.

2020: the ‘super year’ for nature

A decisive event in a critical year

Thank you!

• Many stakeholders, including business, are

Nature-based solutions for societal challenges

Complements and aligns with natures

contributions to people IPBES concept

By 2030, NbS are estimated to provide

37% of climate change mitigation, to meet

2°C goals, with biodiversity co-benefits

Need to address the demand for

integrated solutions to meet our SDGs

Ecosystem restoration contributes to

reducing the climate and biodiversity

crises, while providing benefits to

communities

Societal challenges such poverty, water

security, human health and more are

intensifying along with the climate crisis.

Opportunities and solutions for nature protection and restoration

16

Investment in restoration pays of: (over the next 30 years)

Eastern Europe: investment of USD 777billion compared to the staggering cost ofinaction of up to USD 4,813 billion.

Western Europe: investment of USD 181billion would be dwarfed by the costs ofinaction of up to USD 926 billion.

We need to shift finance to nature, increase both public and private financing and consider

innovative mechanisms and sources.

The Coalition for Private Investment in Conservation focused on enabling conditions that support a material increase in private, return-seeking investment in conservation

Source: IUCN 2019

What is natural capital?

17

The stock of ecosystems that yields a renewable flow of goods and services thatunderpin the economy and provide inputs and direct and indirect benefits tobusinesses and society

Stock of renewable and non-renewable natural resources (ecosystems, animals,plants, water, soil, minerals) that combine to yield a flow of benefits to people(provisional, regulating, cultural).

Source: UNEP FI

Source: Natural Capital Coalition

Source: Natural Capital Coalition

National Ecosystem Accounting –Initiatives (public sector)

UN System of Environmental and Economic Accounts (SEEA):

KIP-INCA : Knowledge innovation project (KIP) Integrated system for Natural Capital and ecosystem services Accounting (- INCA)

UN Wealth Accounting and Valuation of Ecosystem Services (WAVES)

• Intergovernmental Panel on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)

National Ecosystem Accounting –Initiatives (private sector)

Natural Capital Protocol – Private sector framework

Source: Natural Capital Coalition

Volvic Water Catchment protection

20

Large mineral water companies that are dependent on excellent water quality support the protection of both ground and surface’s resources by supporting extensive agricultural practices

Source: Think Nature

London wetland centre – partnership for action

21

Private-public partnership

An urban wetland for wildlife and people

Source: Panorama Solutions for a healthy planet

IUCN WORLD CONSERVATION CONGRESS MARSEILLE 2020Rachel Asante-OwusuNTATION NAME HERE

…aims to transform business practices at landscape and seascape levels to generate benefits for biodiversity and natural resource‐dependent livelihoods by:

Encouraging demonstrable change within companies and sectors in how biodiversity is valued and managed by businesses,

Helping business adopt policies that avoid and minimize impacts on biodiversity, while seeking opportunities for conservation and benefits for people.

For example, IUCN promotes sustainability standards and safeguards; and it supports public and financial sector policies that integrate biodiversity and livelihood values in business decision-making.

IUCN’s Business Engagement Strategy

Value nature

Promote biodiversity net gain

Invest in nature

IUCN’s three key “business” lines

Example

24

Mitigate Biodiversity impact associated with solar and wind power projects

IUCN is partnering with EDF, EDP and Shell Group

Source: IUCN BBP

Business for Nature

25Source: Business for Nature, January 2020

IUCN WORLD CONSERVATION CONGRESS MARSEILLE 2020 – General Presentation

Forum12–15 June 2020

• 500+ interactive workshops, capacity building events and high-level sessions

IUCN World Conservation Congress

Exhibition11–17 June 2020

• 1000+ informative & social events in the pavilions, stands and central stages

Espace Génération Nature

11–19 June 2020

• Experiential biodiversity village showcasing efforts by French civil society

CEO Summit in partnership with Business for Nature15 June 2020, 9am-12 noon

• Business leaders will build momentum around the call to action to governments to agree a new deal for nature and people, and share their own commitments to biodiversity in support of the Post-2020 agenda.

Members’ Assembly16–19 June 2020

• A union of 1300+ government, non-governmental and indigenous peoples’ organisations from 160+ countries.

IUCN WORLD CONSERVATION CONGRESS MARSEILLE 2020 – General Presentation

1. Managing landscapes for nature and people

2. Conserving freshwater to sustain life

3. Restoring ocean health

4. Accelerating climate change mitigation and adaptation

5. Upholding rights, ensuring effective and equitable governance

6. Leveraging economic and financial systems for sustainability

7. Advancing knowledge, learning, innovationand technology

IUCN Congress themes

Bedankt!Merci!Luc Bas- Director of IUCN European Regional Office

29