Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University’s Post

New paper out in the Earth System Governance journal on biodiversity action in policy sectors outside the environmental domain. Although there are high expectations of 'biodiversity mainstreaming' or 'biodiversity policy integration', our review of academic research shows this governance strategy thus far is not very effective. This is worrisome in view of worldwide commitments to this strategy in the CBD’s Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, ratified in 2022. Our paper is part of a special issue on "The Governance of Biodiversity Recovery: From Global Targets to Sectoral Action". https://lnkd.in/ecH5ry7g

New Publication: mainstreaming (the integration of biodiversity in non-environmental policies and plans) is supposed to be a key strategy to bend the curve of biodiversity loss. we have reviewed the literature and find that it doesnt really work - and this aligns pretty much with the literature on environmental policy integration, climate policy integration and sdg implementation. we however also identify elements and processes that can change this trajectory- have a look at the synthesis paper and the other contributions to our special issue!

This sounds like the IMPLEMENTATION of mainstreaming is poor, not that mainstreaming per se is ineffective. Mainstreaming (or any policy effort) required SMART targets and indicators for proper accountability. But also a balanced mix of policy instruments, including a solid legal framework and stringent regulations. #Biodiversity #BiodiversityFinance #SDGs #PolicyInstrumentMix

Do Investors Care About Biodiversity? Read digest of newly published paper by Alexandre Garel, Arthur Romec, Zacharias Sautner, and Alexander Wagner in Review of Finance, Volume 28, Issue 4, July 2024, Pages 1151–1186 Biodiversity, the variety of living organisms in all habitats, is deteriorating at an unprecedented and alarming rate. Given the potentially dramatic financial consequences of the loss of biodiversity, firms, investors, and financial market regulators are increasingly paying attention to the topic. However, the link between biodiversity and finance has received little attention by academics. In this paper, we take a step toward filling this gap by introducing to the finance literature a science-based measure, the corporate biodiversity footprint (CBF), and exploring whether investors price this footprint. https://lnkd.in/dP69PfKA

The #Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework is a historic agreement that seeks to restore nature and halt species extinction. Its four overarching goals focus on ecosystem and species health, the sustainable use of biodiversity, equitable sharing of benefits, and biodiversity implementation and sufficient financing. Discussions currently underway at the 2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference (#COP16) include a review of the implementation of the national targets set in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Countries are expected to present their strategies and actions plan. What should those national action plans include? At the Shamba Centre, we believe that these plans must integrate agriculture. Biodiversity underpins agriculture, sustaining productivity, resilience, and long-term viability. It is not only a component of agriculture its foundation, directly influencing the health and sustainability of cropping systems. How does biodiversity support agriculture? ➡️ Genetic diversity and variability allows crops to adapt to environmental stresses such as pests, diseases, and changing climate conditions. ➡️ Providing critical ecosystem services such pollination by insects, nutrient cycling by microorganisms, soil formation as that are fundamental to corp growth. Biodiverse agricultural systems are inherently more resilient to environmental shocks and recover more quickly. 💡 Therefore, national biodiversity plans should highlight the integration of agriculture with biodiversity conservation, creating synergies between productive farming systems and long-term environmental goals. Read more: https://lnkd.in/etkk-GaE

NEW PAPER ALERT ft. what I can only describe as a dream team of authors. Led by Jenna Sullivan-Stack, who coordinated this dream team, this paper is a meta-analysis of The MPA Guide assessments that have taken place since the publication of The MPA Guide (including the #CCAMLR MPAs that were the first paper to come out of my dissertation!). This is especially key in the discourse of the #30x30 target under the Global Biodiversity Framework - where the quality of protected areas is often overlooked for quantity. https://lnkd.in/evjT-TbE

As a member of the "Leopoldina Focus Group on Biodiversity, Land Use, and Climate," ZEF Director Matin Qaim has worked on a website project for the National Academy over the past 12 months - 15 Answers to 15 Questions on Biodiversity (in German) ➡ https://bit.ly/15QA The Leopoldina's newly released digital dossier "15 Answers to 15 Questions on Biodiversity" provides clear and engaging explanations on critical biodiversity issues, accompanied by informative graphics. The publication, timed to coincide with the 16th UN Biodiversity Conference, addresses global biodiversity threats such as habitat destruction, intensive agriculture, and climate change. It highlights the importance of biodiversity, the losses it faces, and offers actionable recommendations—from expanding protected areas to sustainable agricultural practices. The dossier also outlines individual contributions, like adopting plant-based diets or planting native species to support pollinators. Furthermore, it explores how financial markets can promote biodiversity. Developed by 12 interdisciplinary experts, this dossier is part of a broader effort by the Leopoldina to offer science-based policy advice on biodiversity, land use, and climate. Additional related dossiers are available online, focusing on wetlands and agricultural landscapes. The University of Bonn

📢 The recently released IPART's 2023-24 Biodiversity Market Monitoring Review highlights key findings essential for enhancing biodiversity offset practices in NSW. We look forward to IPARTs investigation into the role the NSW Government should be playing in a market-based mechanism. 🌱 At TE, we support the priority action of developing confidence in the biodiversity market. In order to establish confidence in any market-based mechanism, it is clear that the role of Government is to focus on regulation and administration to achieve market integrity and good governance. In our experience working with private landholders on supply side and project proponents seeking credits, credit development efficiency is a key step that will enhance the market's effectiveness and expand conservation as a land use on private land.   📊 The report also identifies the need for improved data transparency and consistency in measuring biodiversity outcomes, in particular increased emphasis on avoiding impacts. It also points out the importance of stakeholder engagement and adaptive management to ensure that biodiversity markets achieve their intended environmental benefits.   If you’re interested in diving deeper, we encourage you to read the discussion paper or consider making a submission.   https://lnkd.in/g6CZwZis   #Sustainability #Biodiversity #EnvironmentalManagement #IPART

Biodiversity net gain #BNG update: 🌱 The government has issued two new documents relating to BNG: - how to appeal the refusal or non-determination of a biodiversity gain plan (the plan you submit after getting planning permission but before you can start the development, which sets out where you are getting the replacement biodiversity units from) - https://bit.ly/4c6QkM0 - guidance on completing the form - https://bit.ly/3A32hVU The first document is pretty short and factual, the second one is more detailed. I guess we are reaching the stage where such appeals are more likely.