ERM Seminar: Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

10 February 2011

ERM is pleased to invite you to our third Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services client seminar:

Putting biodiversity and ecosystem services (BES) theory into practice

Now that the International Year of Biodiversity has ended, what will the implications be for extractive and power companies?  Key outcomes of 2010 include the endorsement of the G8 Environment Ministers' 'The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity' (TEEB) intiative by 179 governments at Nagoya CBD COP 10, and its acknowledgement by 20 government leaders at the G20 Summit in Seoul.  In addition, the CBD parties agreed on a new 10 year strategic plan and 2020 biodiversity targets.

Over the next two-three years, the inclusion of (1) TEEB's valuation recommendations into policy frameworks and (2) the CBD 2020 biodiversity targets within National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans, will compound the potential materiality of business impacts and dependencies linked to water supply, flooding, carbon, biodiversity, recreation, indigenous groups, air emissions and landscapes etc.

Our seminar will summarise some of the main BES related events, publications and initiatives from 2010, and outline what the key implications are for business. These drivers include, amongst others:

• The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB);
• Nagoya CBD COP 10 and Cancun UNFCCC COP 16;
• The UNEP Finance Initiative and Principles for Responsible Investment report - "Why environmental externalities matter to investors";
• The World Business Council for Sustainable Development - 'Guide to Corporate Ecosystem Valuation' and 'Effective BES Policy and Regulation Brief'; and
• International Finance Corporation Performance Standard 6 on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services revisions.

We will also explore some of the tools, techniques, indicators and issues relating to how companies can assess and evaluate ecosystem service impacts and dependencies, and associated risks and opportunities. Based on feedback from invitees, particular focus will be given to ecosystem valuation techniques, BES indicators and integrating BES into ESIAs.

We will particularly welcome any brief contributions from attendees relating to how their company is dealing with BES, and the issues they face.

The event will be limited to around 15 representatives from oil and gas, mining and power companies. Please register by Friday 21st January and note that we may need to operate on a first come first served basis and restrict numbers per organisation.

If you are unable to attend but would like to receive slides from the event, please click here.

Agenda

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