UNEP Urges Finance Sector to Set Biodiversity Targets

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Natural Capital Finance Alliance (NCFA) has published a report, ‘Beyond ‘Business as Usual’: Biodiversity Targets and Finance’, which urges banks, investors and insurers to set firm targets to reduce biodiversity loss such as ‘net positive impact’ across their activities, starting with nine critical sectors.

The report includes a step-by-step guide which outlines approaches to target-setting on biodiversity based on an initial analysis of the nine priority sectors, with example targets including “no net loss” or “net gain” of biodiversity. These can be implemented through measures such as investing in ecosystem restoration, biodiversity conservation, and the sustainable use of natural resources.