Delivering Biodiversity Impact

Our life and the global economy depends on biodiversity and nature. Driven by the unsustainable use of our natural resources, climate change and biodiversity loss is threatening the health of the planet, the well-being of future generations, and business growth and performance.

We work with clients to build a nature positive strategy which delivers benefits to business and biodiversity. Climate Impact Partners is continually innovating to be at the forefront of climate and biodiversity solutions as we need both to ensure a thriving planet.

We are partnering on several programs to deliver biodiversity benefits. Our partners include the Biodiversity Credit Alliance and World Economic Forum to set standards. We are working with RSK on its Nature Positive program which measures the biodiversity impact of a company. We are also working with CreditNature to measure positive impacts from nature recovery and rewilding projects. Finally, we are partnering with leading biodiversity specialists to measure the biodiversity impacts from carbon finance projects.

What impact does biodiversity have on your business?

Biodiversity, also known as biological diversity, is the foundation of all life on Earth, making up our precious natural world. Without biodiversity, we would simply not exist.

Biodiversity is positively contributing to our lives, and the health of the planet. Companies depend on our biodiversity richness and could not operate without it. And yet, we are using our natural resources at an unsustainable rate. According to the UN and World Economic Forum, one in eight of all wildlife species is threatened with extinction, one third of the world’s topsoil has been degraded, 50% of warm water corals have already been lost.  

The World Economic Forum estimates that investing in nature and increasing biodiversity can generate over $10 trillion (US dollars) in annual business opportunity and create 395 million jobs by 2030.

2022 was a watershed year for biodiversity

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) was adopted at the United Nations’ 2022 Biodiversity Conference (COP15), establishing strategic goals to ‘live in harmony with nature’. The GBF introduces the 30x30 target, which aims to protect 30% of the Earth and restore 30% of degraded ecosystems by 2030, conserving lands, oceans, coastal areas, and inland waters.

The GBF also specifies the need for large companies and financial institutions to regularly monitor and disclose their risks, dependencies and impacts on biodiversity, including in supply chains, as well as increased private finance from developed to developing economies.

Building a Nature Positive strategy

A global movement spearheaded by WWF, World Resources Institute, The Nature Conservancy, and other NGOs sets a vision to halt nature loss and become Nature Positive by 2030 in order to ensure a full recovery of our precious biodiversity and natural ecosystems by 2050. Nature positive represents the inflection point where biodiversity and natural ecosystems are once again thriving, instead of declining.

Biodiversity is growing in prominence for corporate decision-making. It has become clear that companies and financial institutions will play a key role in achieving positive outcomes for the planet as well as for their sustainable growth. Companies are starting to measure their biodiversity footprint, set nature positive goals, and commit to reducing their impact, decreasing risks associated with declining biodiversity.

The Science Based Targets Network (SBTN) is a broad coalition working to produce a framework to enable companies to make science-based commitments to nature. This will enable more private investment in nature conservation and enhancement, using a scientific methodology.

Climate Impact Partners is working with RSK’s Nature Positive program to test its in-depth biodiversity footprint analysis, by measuring the biodiversity impact of a company. Science Based Targets and biodiversity footprints will drive commitments to reduce negative impacts on nature and establish nature positive goals.

Introducing a Voluntary Biodiversity Market

The Voluntary Biodiversity Market (VBM) is currently being developed in response to the nature crisis. The VBM will provide a clear and independently verified pathway to finance high-quality projects, addressing the dangerous loss of biodiversity.

Much like how the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) has created transactable environmental instruments representing a unit of CO2e, the VBM will create biodiversity credits and nature tokens aiming to positively impact nature by protecting and restoring biodiversity and natural ecosystems. In fact, credits and tokens will provide evidence of positive nature impacts that will also benefit corporate performance and create new opportunities. A nature positive strategy ensures resilience for the planet, business, and people.

Climate Impact Partners is partnering with CreditNature who are launching Nature Impact Tokens to measure positive impact resulting from nature recovery and rewilding projects. Working with leading biodiversity specialists, we are also piloting the creation of biodiversity credits to verify the biodiversity impacts of carbon offsetting projects.

Our commitment to market integrity to ensure successful biodiversity investments

Market principles are required to provide clarity and guidance for a credible and scalable biodiversity credit market. Climate Impact Partners is contributing to the integrity, principles, and assurance of the voluntary biodiversity market in how it develops high quality projects and realizes positive impacts on nature.

We are a member of the Biodiversity Credit Alliance (BCA) Task Force, contributing to the development of market principles, and driving a coherent approach to standards in the market. Our experienced team is also involved in the Working Group on Nature led by the World Economic Forum to establish the basis of the market.

With our partners and clients, Climate Impact Partners is committed to creating a market that meets the needs of nature, finance, and business while ensuring land holders’ rights. We are applying the knowledge and expertise from the voluntary carbon markets to catalyze and accelerate innovation and rapid development of biodiversity solutions. As a world leading Voluntary Carbon Market Group, we are experts in developing and managing high-quality climate projects. Our Nature-Based Solutions projects protect and enhance biodiversity to ensure our planet thrives.

Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set 17 objectives for global sustainable development. Protecting and restoring biodiversity focuses on SDGs 14 Life Below Water and 15 Life on Land, while also addressing the other goals as co-benefits.