The national business sector, through the Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development (CEBDS), presents its proposals for the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (Epanb). It is the mechanism that will define the paths that the country will take in relation to nature to achieve the objectives of the new Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
The Strategy is the tool for internalizing goals set at international level at national level. The objective of the productive sector document is to contribute to Brazil having an effective and efficient policy for biodiversity, which allows production and preservation at the same time, generating jobs and income for the population. The document will be delivered to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Marina Silva, and to the department team that coordinates this initiative.
The material is the result of the active participation of 64 companies, from different sectors of the economy, such as industry, agriculture, banks, energy, steel, cosmetics, chemistry and food. The contributions were developed over 7 discussion sessions on the goals of the new Global Biodiversity Framework, signed in December 2022 at a UN conference to halt and reverse the current loss of biodiversity and lead the planet to a life in harmony with nature . It has four long-term objectives for 2050 and 23 action targets for 2030. It is the equivalent of what the Paris Agreement means for the climate emergency.
Goal 15 is considered one of the most significant because it is the first in history in which an international treaty establishes actions directly targeted only at the private sector. It defines the identification and regular disclosure of risks, dependencies and impacts on nature related to companies' activities. The final text does not include the mandatory nature of these reports, but determines that companies must prepare to start producing this type of document. It is worth remembering that more than half of world economic production (US$ 44 trillion per year) is moderately or highly dependent on nature.
CEBDS understands that the great challenge and at the same time the great window of opportunity lies precisely in the work that must be carried out by the public authorities to make Target 15 achievable in Brazil. Therefore, in the proposal, CEBDS presents four recommendations and proposes the implementation of this policy in three phases.
This is because some of the main challenges faced by companies in including biodiversity in management are the lack of internationally standardized methods for measuring and quantifying impacts and the lack of clear criteria for measuring business dependencies on nature. It is important that there are clear indicators and objectives that are scientifically well established and internationally recognized, as well as an effective monitoring system.
In terms of engagement, there has been a significant increase in companies' demand for greater understanding of biodiversity, technical training and participation in initiatives that can enhance the process of including biodiversity in their strategy and business model.
“It is very important that national goals are clear, effective, and, above all, applicable, so that the business sector can develop increasingly sustainable businesses, which generate a positive impact on biodiversity, strengthening the country's competitive advantages, with environmental sustainability and fair sharing of benefits”, details Vanessa Pereira, technical coordinator of Biodiversity at CEBDS.
The recommendations and the three phases of the proposal
In the document, the CEBDS makes four recommendations to the federal government: development of educational material and guidance on the Global Biodiversity Framework, national policy and Target 15; strengthening of Conabio – National Biodiversity Commission; updating the National Biodiversity Policy; and support from the private sector in the construction of the Goal 15 execution plan.
Regarding implementation, the CEBDS proposes that it be carried out in three phases:
1st phase – map large companies that have sustainability reports and/or impacts on nature and investment in training, using SDG 12 and other existing documents as a basis for reporting, with companies being encouraged to seek training on new methodologies, tools and/or existing standards;
2nd phase – establishment of parameters for reporting using standards, reporting impacts and dependencies in a way that is more in line with mature methodologies and tools, followed by a clearer definition of the government's monitoring plan;
3rd phase – achieve the objective of the new milestone with potential progress on Goal 15, with the definition of a national reporting model.
“By including issues related to biodiversity and natural capital in their processes and sustainability reports, companies can identify and mitigate risks to their operations, as well as seize opportunities for innovation and development of new sustainable products and services. This generates numerous benefits for business, such as a positive reputation among consumers, investors and society, strengthening the legitimacy and trust of the organization, as well as the longevity over time of business models that are highly dependent on nature”, he explains. Juliana Lopes, director of Nature and Society at CEBDS.
The document will be delivered to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Marina Silva, and to the department team that coordinates this initiative.
