European Commission

Publications

Biodiversity conservation in Israel – Financial Innovations Lab Report

Financial Innovations Labs® bring together researchers, policy makers, and business, financial, and professional practitioners to create market-based solutions to business and public policy challenges. Using real and simulated case studies, participants consider and design alternative capital structures and then apply appropriate financial technologies to them. This publication addresses biodiversity conservation and finance.
Read more at /environment/biodiversity/business/assets/pdf/resources-center/BiodiversityIsraelLab.pdf

Ecolodges: Exploring Opportunities for Sustainable Business

This publication summarizes the results of research on the triple bottom line from two studies, emphasizing environmental, social and economic sustainability in the ecolodge sector. Key factors are highlighted regarding what makes an ecolodge environmentally, socially and financially successful.
Read more at http://www.ifc.org/ifcext/sustainability.nsf/Content/Publications_Report_Ecolodges

Sustainable Investments for Conservation –The Business Case for Biodiversity.

The aim of this PwC study on behalf of the WWF is to inform potential investors and opinion multipliers about the opportunity of investing in nature conservation.
Read more at http://www.pwc.com/en_GX/gx/sustainability/executive_summary.pdf

Biodiversity offsets and the mitigation hierarchy: a review of current application in the banking sector

This study explores four main themes among which familiarity and awareness among the financial sector of the biodiversity mitigation hierarchy and biodiversity offsets; corporate policy approaches of banks in understanding and addressing biodiversity issues etc.
Read more at http://www.unepfi.org/fileadmin/documents/biodiversity_offsets.pdf

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services – Bloom or Bust?

This report provides guidelines for financial institutions that wish to manage biodiversity & ecosystem service risks more effectively, as well as illustrates how opportunities and tools for financial products and services can be developed.
Read more at http://www.unepfi.org/fileadmin/documents/bloom_or_bust_report.pdf

The GDM 2010 Initiative Report - Toward a market-based financial mechanism to support biodiversity and development

The GDM 2010 Initiative has been established after the CBD CoP9 aiming to support the idea of a Green Development Mechanism (GDM) and to undertake consultations on how to design such a mechanism. This document aims to assist the Parties in their decision to support further consideration of the establishment of a GDM.
Read more at http://gdm.earthmind.net/2010-10-nagoya/cop-10-inf-15-en.pdf

The Little Biodiversity Finance book – 3rd edition (2012)

The third edition of the Little Biodiversity Finance Book is the new, revised guide to proactive investment in natural capital (PINC) and an introduction to financing options for biodiversity and ecosystems services. It is being released on 5 June 2012 – World Environment Day. The aim of the book is to help key stakeholders including governments, NGOs, the private sector, indigenous peoples and local communities to compare existing and future options for biodiversity and ecosystem finance in a clear and consistent way.
Read more at http://www.globalcanopy.org/materials/little-biodiversity-finance-book?utm_source=TEEBrief+Issue+12&utm_campaign=TEEBrief+12&utm_medium=email

The Little Biodiversity Finance Book – A guide to proactive investment in natural capital (PINC) (Global Canopy Foundation – 2010)

This publication aims to set a framework organizing financial mechanisms. This framework is meant to help stakeholders (governments, NGOs, businesses, local communities) to compare options for biodiversity and ecosystem finance.
Read more at http://www.globalcanopy.org/themedia/file/PDFs/LBFB_lowres/lbfb_en.pdf

Ecosystem Service Market Development: The Role and Opportunity for Finance (Institute for Natural Resources – 2010)

This publication explores how economics of ecosystem services interacts with finance. This report is based on findings from research, interviews of experts and a workshop entitled “Enhancing Rural Sustainability: Financial Tools for Ecosystem Services Transactions”. It includes recommendations for improving ecosystem services project access to finance.
Read more at http://moderncms.ecosystemmarketplace.com/repository/moderncms_documents/2010_bullitt_phase1.1.1.1.1.1.pdf

Demystifying Materiality – Hardwiring biodiversity and ecosystem services into finance (UNEP FI – 2010)

This publication is based on previous UNEP FI’s Bloom or Burst report and on TEEB report. It intends for encouraging financial institutions to integrate biodiversity ecosystem services in the financial sector.
Read more at http://www.unepfi.org/fileadmin/documents/CEO_DemystifyingMateriality.pdf

REDDy – Set – Grow: Opportunities and roles of financial institutions in forest-carbon markets

The report by UNEP Finance Initiative (FI) stresses how private sector participation in REDD+ and deforestation activities can lead to a win-win scenario for the finance sector and governments, since such projects can translate into both lucrative investment opportunities and cost-effective strategies to abate carbon emissions and protect biodiversity and livelihoods.
Read more at http://www.unepfi.org/events/2011/london/index.html

Performance Standard 6 by the International Finance Corporation

Performance Standard 6 recognizes that protecting and conserving biodiversity, maintaining ecosystem services, and sustainably managing living natural resources are fundamental to sustainable development. The requirements set out in this Performance Standard have been guided by the Convention on Biological Diversity, which defines biodiversity as "the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are a part; this includes diversity within species, between species, and of ecosystems."
Read more here and here for the whole Sustianability Framework

Finance and Biodiversity Conservation: Best Practice Benchmarking

Summary of the workshop held in June 2011 in Brussels, Belgium by the EU Business @ Biodiversity Platform. The workshop focused on benchmarking methodology for biodiversity action in the private sector.
Read more at environment/biodiversity/business/assets/pdf/sectors/FINAL_Finance.pdf

Finance and the EU Biodiversity Strategy

Summary of the workshop held in September 2011 in Brussels, Belgium by the EU Business @ Biodiversity Platform. The workshop focused on the EU Biodiversity Strategy and its relevance to the private sector.
Read more at environment/biodiversity/business/assets/pdf/resources-center/Finance and the EU Biodiversity Strategy.pdf

Corporate Biodiversity Accounting

This recent Ecometrica paper shows how corporate biodiversity performance can be presented in a transparent and concise set of accounts for corporate social responsibility reports and business reviews. The suggested framework follows the same structure as financial reporting, although it doesn't require the conversion of biodiversity data to monetary values.
Read more at http://ecometrica.com/assets//ecometrica-corporate-biodiversity-accounting.pdf

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