CDP Climate Change 2022 Reporting Guidance

(C15.2) Has your organization made a public commitment and/or endorsed any initiatives related to biodiversity?

Change from last year

New question

Rationale

An organization that commits publicly to implementing a biodiversity policy sends investors and other data users a strong signal that it wishes to be held to account for its biodiversity stewardship. Organizations disclosing this information can benchmark their commitments against their peers and so drive change within their industries.

Connection to other frameworks

SDG

Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production

Goal 13: Climate Action

Goal 15: Life on land

Response options

Please complete the following table:

(*column/row appearance is dependent on selections in this or other questions)

Requested content

General

• A commitment is public when it is accessible to stakeholders (e.g., available on the organization’s website or on any other unrestricted site).
• Select a ‘Yes’ option if your organization has made any public commitment related to biodiversity.
• Do not select a ‘Yes’ option if your commitments are internal or private only.

Biodiversity-related public commitments (column 2)

• This column is presented only if either “Yes, we have made public commitments and publicly endorsed initiatives related to biodiversity” or “Yes, we have made public commitments only” is selected in column 1 (Indicate whether…).

Initiatives endorsed (column 3)

• This column is presented only if either “Yes, we have made public commitments and publicly endorsed initiatives related to biodiversity” or “Yes, we endorse initiatives only” is selected in column 1 (Indicate whether…).
• This list includes examples of leading global initiatives that promote adoption of corporate commitments related to biodiversity.
• Only select CBD – Global Biodiversity Framework if your organization has signed up to the commits and associated actions.
• Only select F4B if you are listed on the initiative's website as a pledge signatory.
• Only select PBAF if you are listed on the initiative’s website as a partner or supporter.
• If you select ‘Other, please specify’, provide a label for the initiative. Initiatives reported here should be voluntary and relate clearly to public biodiversity commitments.

Explanation of terms

• CITES species: species listed in any of the annexes of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
• Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC): a community right to give or withhold its consent to proposed projects that may affect the lands they customarily own, occupy or otherwise use, as recognized by several international instruments including the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), International Labour Organization’s Convention 169, and Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
• Internationally recognized areas: UNESCO Natural World Heritage Sites, UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Reserves, Key Biodiversity Areas, and wetlands designated under the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (the Ramsar Convention) (IFC, 2012).
• Protected area: a protected area is a clearly defined geographical space, recognised, dedicated and managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values (IUCN, 2008). For the purposes of this CDP disclosure, only legally designated areas (i.e., designated by governments) are expected to be disclosed.
• Net Positive Impact: The point at which project-related impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services are outweighed by measures taken according to the mitigation hierarchy, so that a net gain results. May also be referred to as net gain (CSBI, 2015).
• No Net Loss: The point at which project-related impacts are balanced by measures taken through application of the mitigation hierarchy, so that no loss remains (CSBI, 2015).
• Threatened and protected habitats: All habitats considered threatened or otherwise protected by national or subnational laws and regulation, as well as international multilateral agreements, including protected areas, World Natural Heritage Sites, Natura 2000 sites and other similar areas.

Additional information

• CBD - Global Biodiversity Framework: the post-2020 global biodiversity framework builds on the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and sets out an ambitious plan to implement broad-based action to bring about a transformation in society’s relationship with biodiversity and to ensure that, by 2050, the shared vision of living in harmony with nature is fulfilled. The framework aims to galvanize urgent and transformative action by governments and all of society, including indigenous peoples and local communities, civil society and businesses, to achieve the outcomes it sets out in its vision, mission, goals and targets, and thereby contribute to the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity and other biodiversity related multilateral agreements, processes and instruments.
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 goals for 2030 that look to balance the three dimensions of sustainable development: the economic, social and environmental (Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform, 2015).
• F4B Pledge - Finance for biodiversity pledge: signatories call on global leaders and commit to protecting and restoring biodiversity through their finance activities and investments.
• The Partnership for Biodiversity Accounting Financials (PBAF) is a partnership of financial institutions that work together to explore the opportunities and challenges surrounding the assessment and disclosure of the impact on biodiversity associated with their loans and investments.
• CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species.