With ongoing biodiversity loss, businesses, authorities, and society are expected to account for their biodiversity impact. Under environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting, larger companies must disclose their biodiversity footprint. Although the European Sustainability Reporting Standard ESRS E4 took effect in 2024, a standardised approach is still lacking. Guidelines and metrics are being developed by the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TFND), the Science Based Target Network (SBTN) or the Nature Positive Initiative (NPI). However, assessment metrics vary highly and none reflects the inherent complexity of biodiversity. For companies, a uniform, numerical footprint index that could be included in financial statements – possibly with a price tag – would be desirable. Such an approach requires standardisation, calibration, suitability across geographic locations, sufficient spatiotemporal resolution and data quality – all of which is not yet given.
Biodiversity footprints offer immense potential for companies to assess their direct and indirect biodiversity impacts, to identify high-risk areas in value chains, and to establish mitigation measures, ultimately resulting in an asset that can be increased or even be traded.
This session presents current developments in corporate biodiversity reporting and invites contributions on:
- biodiversity metrics or assessment tools for companies
- challenges and opportunities in developing and implementing biodiversity footprints
- links to frameworks such as ESG, ESRS E4, TFND, and SBTN
- case studies on corporate biodiversity footprint reporting
We plan to connect scientific knowledge and corporate perspectives, welcoming contributions from both biodiversity researchers and business professionals.