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INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON EMAS: TOWARDS A RESOURCE EFFICIENT ECONOMY EMAS and Biodiversity Marion Hammerl Lake Constance Foundation European Business and Biodiversity Campaign supported by the EU LIFE+ Programme.
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INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON EMAS: TOWARDS A RESOURCE EFFICIENT ECONOMY EMAS and Biodiversity Marion Hammerl Lake Constance Foundation European Business and Biodiversity Campaignsupported by the EU LIFE+ Programme
Duration: 2010 - December 2012Target group: Big companies and SMEs in Europe Campaign Coordinator: Global Nature Fund Partner • IUCN Europe, Belgium • Fundación Global Nature, Spain • Lake Constance Foundation (Bodensee-Stiftung), Germany • Triple E, Netherlands • DOKEO, Germany • Altop Verlag, Germany
Objectives • Improving the understanding about biodiversity and ecosystem services • Informing about tools that help businesses to assess and mitigate the impacts on biodiversity • Include biodiversity into environmental management systems, labels, standards • Promote biodiversity partnerships between business and NGOs • Showcasing business commitments and initiatives (EU B@B Platform, Biodiversity in Good Company)
Communikation Biodiversity-Specials in Forum CSR international / Nachhaltig Wirtschaften www.business-biodiversity.eu
Which economic sectors should take biodiversity into account? Most companies have a two-way relationship with nature /biodiversity: On the one hand they may have direct impacts on biodiversity and ecosystems through their core operations or indirectly through their supply chain, or through their lending and investment choices. On the other hand, many companies depend on biodiversity and the services provided by ecosystems as key inputs to products and production processes. (TEEB Report for Business)
Which economic sectors should take biodiversity into account? All! Businesses with direct impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity, such as mining, oil and gas, infrastructure, transport Businesses that depend on healthy ecosystems and biodiversity for production, such as agriculture /food production, fisheries, tourism, cosmetics and personal care, natural medicines, pharmaceuticals Industry sectors that finance and undergird economic activity and growth, like banks and asset managers, as well as insurance and business services Businesses that are selling ecosystem services or biodiversity-related products such as (eco)tourism, eco-agriculture, bio-carbon, drinking water
EMAS and Biodiversity • EMAS III defines basic indicators that have to be used by the participating organisations in their environmental statements and reports: • - energy efficiency: total annual energy consumption and the share of renewable energy • - material efficiency: total annual mass flow of the various replacement materials • - water: total annual water consumption - waste: total annual waste accumulation and accumulation of hazardous waste • - biodiversity: land consumption
Currently many organisations /initiatives are working on Business and biodiversity Biodiversity indicators/Ecosystem services indicatorse.g. - German initiative „Biodiversity in Good Company“- European Business and Biodiversity Platform (DG Environment)- International initiatives like Ecosystem Services Review- Company´s initiatives like Pro Planet (REWE-Brand)Missing: Coordination, exchange of experience, use of synergies
Global Reporting Initiative - Biodiversity indicatorsThe Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)= Sustainability Reporting Framework.The environment category encompasses nine aspects and a total sum of thirty indicators.The aspect of Biodiversity presents the broadest indicators, but also vaguely defined ones such as “description of significant impacts of activities, products and services on biodiversity (…)”.Sector Supplements provide more individualized guidance for the industry sectors Electric Utilities, Financial Services, Food Processing, Mining and Metals, and NGO.
Evaluation of the biological footprint ALDI Austria http://www.zurueckzumursprung.at/co2-und-klimaschutz/co2-fussabdruck/co2-links/ Genetic Diversification CO2 Reduction Habitat Diversification Reduction of water cons. Species Diversification
ALDI Austria – Biological Footprint More Biodiversity: 26% more nature diversity than with conventional milk
REWE – One of Germany biggest food retailer created “Pro Planet” products PRO PLANET – Apples from Lake Constance – contributing to biodiversity
Ecosystem Services Review World Ressource Institute + WBCSD . Current EMS have the focus on the impact, not on dependence. They focus on risks not on opportunities. EMS should consider the risks and opportunities arising from the degradation of ecosystems and services they provide.
Biodiversity and ecosystem servicesPrivate sector and all its economic activities depend on biodiversity and ecosystem services as basis for their daily business. Example: Agricultural sector and the whole food processing industry both depend on the nutrients cycle, provision of fresh water and on pollination services.Key data and indicators to measure the economic value of ecosystem services for the company in order to consider those values in the economic balanceKey data and indicators to evaluate risks related to biodiversity and ecosystem services loss and degradation (= scarcity of raw materials, legal risks, reputational damages, financial risks etc.)Key data and indicators to evaluate company´s direct and indirect impact on biodiversity
EMAS focus on impacts on Biodiversity - Consumption of resources (overexploitation) - Damage on ecosystems and species- transformation of habitats - deposit of waste and emissions (*1)- contribution to climate change (*1)- spread of invasive species- Lack of inclusion of local /indigenous people into information and benefit sharing Direct aspects and indirect aspects should be considered!(*1) = Traditionally part of Environmental Management Systems!Missing =Key data /Indicators for indirect aspects of corporate actionKey data /Indicators for the more untraditional environmental aspects such as invasive species or overexploitation Key data /Indicators for “Access of information and benefit sharing”
Biodiversity Check according to EMAS methodology • Objectives • Identify the relationship between business and biodiversity • Identify the business impacts on biodiversity • Show the relevance to integrate biodiversity in the corporate social responsibility strategy • Show the relevance to integrate biodiversity in the companies (environmental) management system to guarantee continuous improvement
B+B Campaign - Biodiversity Check – First results Sector independent key data /indicators Management Are you using an Environmental Management System? Does biodiversity play a role in this management system? Indicator: % of biodiversity related measures of total measures Source: EMAS /ISO 14001 Environmental Programme Stakeholder Do you collaborate with international /national/regional organizations and / or scientific institutions to address biodiversity aspects on a global level? Key Data: Number of organisations, number of joint /supported initiatives Source: Companies own statistics
Biodiversity Check - Sector independent Headquarters /Production sites – In general How is biodiversity related to your headquarters / facility and estate management? Key data: Number of plant and animal species; number of biotopes; number of native plants Indicator: ha /qm of sealed /urbanized land in relation to production (economic value, quantity) Source: Inventory /Field mapping together with NGOs /scientific institute Does your estate management take into account environmental standards including biodiversity issues? If yes, which standard? Key data: Compliance with nature protection legislation /environmental legislation Source: European, national, regional legislation
Biodiversity Check - Sector independent Headquarters /Production sites – Habitat changes Does your company have any location and sites of land owned, leased, managed in, or adjacent to that is located in protected areas or areas of high biodiversity value or areas next to protected areas? Key data: ha of sites adjacent to (≤ 5m ) or included in protected areas Source: Companies own statistics Does your company incorporate the protection of natural habitat, wetlands, forest, wildlife corridors, protected areas and agricultural lands into the development of buildings and construction works? Indicator: ha /qm of natural land and/or intact biotopes in relation to total surface of permises and production sites Source: Companies own statistics
Biodiversity Check - Sector independent Headquarters /Production sites – Endangered species Do you investigate if there are endangered species (IUCN Red List and National Conversation List) in the areas affected by your operations? If yes, which one? Key data: Number of species of the IUCN Red List Index; FFH-Directive (Annex I - IV) Source: Inventory /Field mapping together with local NGO Do you consider endangered species in the management of your operations in those areas? Indicator: Compliance with nature protection legislation /environmental legislation Source: European /national /regional legislation Did the construction of new sites influence the migration of Neobiota (not native species)? Key data: Number of neobiota species, extension (in ha/qm) of neobiota plants Source: Inventory /mapping elaborated with NGO or scientific institution
Biodiversity Check - Sector independent Headquarters /Production sites – Exploitation of natural resources Are there any activities of restoration /reforestation to compensate the exploitation of resources? Indicator. Ha /qm of restored habitats or reforested area. Comparison to surface of damaged habitat Source: Companies statistics, ISO /EMAS Environmental Report Energy consumption and CO2 emissions, waste production, water consumption, waste water production …. (*1) of companies headquarters and production sites Key data: Yearly energy consumption, yearly CO² emissions Source: Companies statistics, ISO /EMAS Environmental Report (*1) Traditional EMAS key data and indicators – we do not go into detail!
Biodiversity Check - Sector independent Procurement /Raw Material How is biodiversity related to raw material extraction or to your procurement processes? Indicator: % of providers with environmental management system, % of providers with ecolabel of total number of providers Source: Companies Procurement Policy and criteria. Companies own statistics Is there any land use for raw material extraction which influences biodiversity? If yes, how do you compensate these activities? Key data: In case of own material extraction: Key data according to EIA Source: Environmental Impact Assessment, Assessment of local /national NGO
Biodiversity Check - Sector independent Procurement /Raw Material Are there any influences by the extraction of raw materials such as sealing of the surface, removal of vegetation, extraction of ground water, restoration / reforestation, clean-up activities that influences the life of endangered species (in a positive and / or negative way)? Key data: ha of biotopes affected or destroyed ha of restored biotopes Sources: FFH Directive, national, regional legislation Which and how many species are influenced by these activities and how do you deal with it? Key data: Number of endangered species affected. Biodiversity Management Plan yes/no Source: Environmental Impact Assessment, FFH Directive, IUCN Red List Index
Biodiversity Check - Sector independent Procurement /Raw Material Do you have a strategy / program to guarantee the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of natural resources in this process? Key data: Number of agreements with local population /number of persons benefitted. Percentage of benefit Source: Companies own statistics, Local NGOs Are there any influences in terms of monocropping, homogenization, farming, overfishing? Indicator: Compliance with nature protection legislation /environmental legislation Source: European /national /regional legislation Are there any activities of restoration / reforestation to compensate the exploitation of resources? Indicator: Ha of restored habitats / reforestation to exploited surface
Biodiversity Check - Sector independent Marketing /Communication Do you integrate biodiversity issues in your sustainability communication and / or your annual report? Indicators: GRI Indicators; Publication of indicators identified in the EMAS /ISO Environmental Program Source: Sustainability Report; EMAS /ISO Environmental Report Other ways of communication about your activities regarding biodiversity towards costumers, stakeholders, suppliers … Quality Indicator: Feedback from costumers, stakeholder, suppliers on communication on biodiversity. Source: Surveys, analysis of comments Surveys among costumers, stakeholders, suppliers …Evaluation of feedback on website, others
Biodiversity Check - Sector independent Staff Are there any employee volunteering projects addressing biodiversity? Key data: Number of employees involved in volunteering projects; Indicator: Payed time given by the companies for employee involvement; budget (in %) for employee volunteering projects in relation to total budget Source: Companies own statistics; Environmental Report; Are there any employee programs in terms of transport and business trips that contribute to reduce emissions, energy and other environmental impacts on biodiversity? Quality Indicator: Feedback from employees on communication on biodiversity /companies initiatives for biodiversity protection. Source: surveys, analysis of comments Surveys among employees; analysis of comments Have you developed employee training program including biodiversity issues related to their position or to the activities of your company? Key data: Number of employees trained. Sources: Companies own statistics, training plan
Biodiversity Check – Currently available: Sector sepcific key data and indicators for Extractive industry Agricultural Industry (intensive fruit production) Forestry (Industry) Tourism Currently in development: Sector specific key data and indicators for Food – Retail Sector Textile Transport /Mobility (e.g. airports)
Conclusions Indicator land use is not sufficient and often not meaningful! Need to identify Key data /Indicators for indirect aspects of corporate action (e.g. procurement, raw material, communication Key data /Indicators for the more untraditional environmental aspects such as invasive species or overexploitation Key data /Indicators for “Access of information and benefit sharing” Not only management/improvement of impact on biodiversity, but also Key data and indicators to measure the economic value of ecosystem services for the company in order to consider those values in the economic balance Key data and indicators to evaluate risks related to biodiversity and ecosystem services loss and degradation (= scarcity of raw materials, legal risks, reputational damages, financial risks etc.)
Contact Marion Hammerl Marion.hammerl@ bodensee-stiftung.org Global Nature Fund (GNF) Stefan Hörmann hoermann@globalnature.org This time without you!