The key messages of IPBES’ methodological assessment of the impact and dependence of business on biodiversity and nature’s contributions to people

Businesses have a major role in delivering transformative change to implement global policy goals and frameworks such as the goals and targets under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement. The IPBES’ methodological assessment of the impact and dependence of business on biodiversity and nature’s contributions to people strengthens the knowledge base to support efforts by business towards the implementation of these goals and frameworks. This presentation gives an overview of the key messages from the assessment and the knowledge gaps identified. The assessment categorizes the dependencies and impacts of business and financial institutions on nature, reviews and critically evaluates approaches for measurement of impacts and dependencies of businesses on biodiversity and discusses how such information can be used to improve outcomes for biodiversity and nature’s contributions to people. It also discusses the role of multiple actors (i.e. businesses, governments, financial institutions, civil society and Indigenous Peoples and local communities) in creating an enabling environment. The key messages synthetize and bring insight to the knowledge assessed throughout the report’s six chapters: 1) Setting the scene; 2) How does business depend on biodiversity?; 3) How does business impact on biodiversity?; 4) Approaches for measurement of business dependencies and impacts on biodiversity; 5) Business as key actors in transformative change: options for action; 6) Creating an enabling environment for business: options for action by governments, the financial system and other actors. The information about impacts and dependencies gathered in the assessment can help guide businesses and enable reporting, transparency, decision-making and actions, which can lead to improved outcomes for biodiversity and businesses. The assessment can also help bring clarity to potential conflicts and relevant gaps in approaches for measurement in the context of different activities and sectors.