Post on 27-Mar-2015
Geneva, September 2007
Ecosystems
World Business Council for
Sustainable Development
Doing Business with the World - The new role of
corporate leadership in global development
Overview
The global view: Business, communities and development
Biodiversity and development
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The global view: Business, communities & ecosystems
Operational Regulatory Reputational Access to capital
Corporations not only affect ecosystem
services but also rely on them
Communities rely on ecosystem products
and services, too
Employment Production Livelihoods
For businesses today, ecosystems offer natural capital, an
important source of raw material
Ecological economists have calculated that the Earth
provides a minimum of $16-54 trillion dollars worth of
'services' to humans per year.3
SectorEstimated number
of employedForestry1 3 millionWood industries1 7.5 millionPulp and paper1 4.3 millionFishers2 30 million
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Biodiversity and development
An overview of the development status of countries and areas with high ecological significance
Source: IUCN. 2004. “Poverty-Conservation Mapping Applications.” IUCN World Conservation Congress 17-25 November 2004.
]
Many biologically rich areas are found in developing countries -- as shown when Human Development Index (HDI) values, tropical hotspots, wilderness areas are mapped together.
The Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite index measuring basic
dimensions (life expectancy, education and income level) of human development.
Needs & Challenges
Societal needs and consequences
Climate change and food security
Biodiversity and development
Key challenges limiting progress
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Societal needs and consequences
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Land use +Leading causes of
ecosystem degradation
Diversion of freshwater
The poor are especially vulnerable because of their high
dependence on natural
resources.
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Climate change and food security
World Resources Institute. 2005. The Wealth of the Poor: Managing ecosystems to fight poverty.
“The adverse impacts of climate change will be most striking in
developing nations—and particularly among the poor—both because of their high dependence
on natural resources and their limited capacity to adapt to a
changing climate.”
-World Resources Institute. 2005. The Wealth of the Poor: Managing ecosystems to fight poverty.
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Biodiversity and development
More than 1.1 billion people live in the 25 biodiversity hotspots
identified by Conservation International. In 19 of these areas population is growing
faster than the world average.1
Biodiversity provides food, fuel, shelter, medicines and livelihoods for the poor, especially
in rural areas.
Source: Population Action International. 2000. Cincotta, Richard P. and Engelman, Robert. Nature’s Place: Human Population and the Future of Biodiversity. http://www.populationaction.org/Publications/Reports/Natures_Place/Natures_Place.pdf
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Market threats
•scarcity of raw materials
•higher operating costs
•reduced flexibility
Key challenges limiting progress
Weak or absent regulatory frameworks Understanding the value of ecosystems Promoting awareness among people,
communities and business View that ecosystems are part of the
global commons
Water scarcity
Climate change
Habitat change
Biodiversity loss
Invasive species
Overexploitation of
oceans
Nutrient overloading
Opportunities
What are the opportunities? New business and market
opportunities Key messages WBCSD Resources
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What are the opportunities?
Develop new technologies and products Growing market for "non-conventional"
ecosystem products and services New partnerships for innovative approaches Examples include
Unilever and the Marine Stewardship CouncilLafarge and the Wildlife Habitat Council
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New business and market opportunities
New markets
Certification of ecosystem products
Fair trade products
Organic products
Environmentally-friendly productsExample
In North America and the Pacific Rim, total sales in
fair trade goods rose 52% from 2002 to 2003.1
ExampleTotal value of
aggregated carbon markets globally was
more than US$10 billion in 2005.1
Water quality trading
Wetland banking
Mitigation credit trading
Threatened species banking
Innovation in pollution prevention, capture, treatment and reuse
New businesses
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Key messages
For business, investing in sustainable ecosystems can:
Create new revenue streams by introducing innovative products and services
Reduce dependence on increasingly scarce raw materials
Mitigate rising costs caused by scarcity of raw materials
Create new markets for certified, fair trade, organically grown or environmentally-friendly products
Develop new businesses
(e.g. water quality trading, wetland banking)
Strengthen license to operate
For governments, an effective policy framework for sustainable ecosystems can:
Protect ecosystems and the associated populations and communities that depend on them for their livelihoods
Ensure long term sustainable use of ecosystems
Mitigate negative environmental and climate change impacts
Raise awareness on the importance of sustainable ecosystem management
Generate income through taxation
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WBCSD Resources
Ecosystem Challenges and Business Implications
This publication discusses the challenges inherent in the use of ecosystem services and the implications for business.
Business & Biodiversity: The Handbook for Corporate Action
The handbook provides information on the business case for biodiversity, as well as current biodiversity issues for business, corporate biodiversity strategies and key biodiversity resources.
Business & Biodiversity: A Guide for the Private Sector
Written in conjunction with the IUCN, this business primer looks at the implications of the Convention on Biological Diversity for business.
www.wbcsd.org/web/development.htm