OVERVIEW OF CURRENT APPROACHES AND PRACTICES OF SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESSES TO THE MAINSTREAMING OF BIODIVERSITY A Preliminary Baseline Assessment

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1 OVERVIEW OF CURRENT APPROACHES AND PRACTICES OF SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESSES TO THE MAINSTREAMING OF BIODIVERSITY A Preliminary Baseline Assessment OVERVIEW OF CURRENT APPROACHES AND PRACTICES OF SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESSES TO THE MAINSTREAMING OF BIODIVERSITY A Preliminary Baseline Assessment Biodiversity and Conservation

2 Rationale: Journey of present study The CBD COP 10 decision requested the Secretariat to encourage establishment of national and regional business and biodiversity initiatives by facilitating a forum of dialogue among Parties and other Governments, business, and other stakeholders. Est. of the National Business and Biodiversity Network-2013 Need to understand the current status quo in South Africa & appetite for National Business and Biodiversity Initiatives Collaborating partners: DEA, University of Pretoria, IUCN, EWT (NBBN) initiated a scoping study in finalised in 2015.

3 Introduction Global Movement: Reduce loss of ecosystems and restore degraded ones By 2020, reduce the loss of natural ecosystems and restore degraded ones so that biodiversity and ecosystem services are maintained Adopting a business language: Natural Capital underpins the economy, providing inputs and direct and indirect benefits to businesses and society essential for South Africa s development.

4 Why is mainstreaming biodiversity important? Businesses are linked to the well-being and sustainable use of these resources. Therefore, management of this natural capital has to be an essential component of the formal risk management and governance processes of business. For organisations to remain competitive they have to identify their current and future impacts and dependencies on the environment.

5 National Biodiversity and Business Network (NBBN) Created to support the mainstreaming of biodiversity into business in South Africa. South Africa is also a strategic partner and executive member of the Convention on Biological Diversity s Global Partnership for Business and Biodiversity.

6 Preliminary Baseline Assessment AIM: assessing current approaches and practices of South African businesses to mainstream biodiversity. OBJECTIVES: Current understanding of companies about biodiversity; Potential business risks, opportunities and dependencies; Key drivers for companies; Current business approaches to mainstream biodiversity; Key challenges and opportunities faced by businesses; Baseline assessment of the current business approaches; Priority actions for the NBBN to support businesses.

7 Preliminary Baseline Assessment 33 companies from different sectors were selected to assess potential trends across sectors: insurance, tobacco, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, transport, logistics, energy, engineering, beverage, communication, retail, agricultural supply chain, mining and construction.

8 Main Findings < 40% demonstrated a good understanding of biodiversity and related ecosystems services. < 40% demonstrated a good understanding of biodiversity-related business risks, opportunities and dependencies. > 60% of companies have not assessed their level of dependency on biodiversity. > 65% have considered biodiversity from a corporate social responsibility or corporate social investment perspective but not as part of their core business. Extractive industry companies have a better understanding. Water, climate change or energy mainstreaming is focus approach for companies. Most companies only referred to the direct biodiversity impacts including waste, direct water usage and energy usage. Indirect impacts are almost never assessed and never reported on.

9 Main Findings > 60% of companies displayed an ad-hoc corporate approach to biodiversity. < 10% of companies demonstrated a consolidated approach to the management and mainstreaming. < 10 % demonstrated an understanding of the role and importance of biodiversity for the country s development path. The key drivers for mainstreaming : risk management, business operational or strategic needs, compliance management and reputation management. < 10% demonstrated mainstreaming across strategic, managerial and operational levels.

10 Recommendations More strategic and comprehensive approach. Financial, sustainability and integrated reporting on biodiversity-related matters need to be consolidated and rationalised. Improve understanding of dependencies on biodiversity Conduct focused assessments. Improve assessment of business risks and opportunities related to biodiversity Dedicated biodiversity risk and opportunity assessments. Process and level of mainstreaming to assess effectiveness and challenges. Assess budgets being allocated to manage biodiversity in business. Identify the institutional/governance structures being used to manage biodiversity and assess their effectiveness, in order to inform better practices. Information sharing and capacity building is needed.

11 In conclusion This platform together with the GPBB should serve as a mechanism to encourage other business and biodiversity initiatives in the country as well as regionally, in support of the implementation of the National Biodiversity Economy Strategy (NBES), intended to integrate all role-players and expand the envelop of local, national and regional business and biodiversity initiatives. Business Leadership- Natural Capital Agenda: Business as Usual is not an option

12 Kiruben Naicker Director: Science Policy Interface Branch: Biodiversity &Conservation Tel: