ESG Viewpoint: Biodiversity Best Practice and Engagement Approach
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ESG Viewpoint: Biodiversity Best Practice and Engagement Approach

Nature loss poses financially material risks for asset managers. We explain how biodiversity risks can be assessed, outline our approach to engaging with businesses on the topic and detail our best practice framework.

The Earth’s biodiversity is dwindling at an alarming rate. Around a quarter of species are at risk of extinction by 2050, and global wildlife populations have plummeted by 69% on average since 1970. The key drivers of biodiversity loss are climate change, land-use change, pollution, direct exploitation of natural resources, and invasive species. All five drivers are primarily fuelled by corporate activities. Agriculture-driven habitat loss is an identified threat to 24,000 of the 28,000 species threatened with extinction, 32% of World Heritage Sites are threatened by mining or oil and gas operations, and 27% of total ecosystem service losses are due to chemical pollution.

Corporates both contribute to biodiversity loss and face increasing nature-related risks to their business models due to financial dependencies on nature. Nature contributes between US $44 trillion and $150 trillion to the world’s economy each year – the loss of nature-based services poses severe risks for business. Pandemics such as COVID-19 are made more likely by habitat loss, wildlife trafficking and humanity’s destruction of biodiversity, and 75% of agricultural crops, worth $2.4 trillion rely on insect pollination which is threatened by declining insect populations.

Interested in learning more?

Nature loss poses financially material risks for asset managers and it’s an issue closely linked to climate change. We explore how biodiversity risks can be assessed, outline our approach to engaging with businesses on the topic and detail our best practice framework. Download the full viewpoint to discover more.

13 December 2022
Harry Ashman
Harry Ashman
Vice President, Analyst, Responsible Investment
Joe Horrocks-Taylor
Joe Horrocks-Taylor
Senior Associate, Analyst, Responsible Investment
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ESG Viewpoint: Biodiversity Best Practice and Engagement Approach

Important Information

Views and opinions have been arrived at by Columbia Threadneedle Investments and should not be considered to be a recommendation or solicitation to buy or sell any companies that may be mentioned.

The information, opinions, estimates or forecasts contained in this document were obtained from sources reasonably believed to be reliable and are subject to change at any time.

Engagement efforts outlined in this Viewpoint reflect the assets of a group of legal entities whose parent company is Columbia Threadneedle Investments UK International Limited and that formerly traded as BMO Global Asset Management EMEA. These entities are now part of Columbia Threadneedle Investments which is the asset management business of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. Engagement and voting services are also executed on behalf of reo® clients.

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Important Information

Views and opinions have been arrived at by Columbia Threadneedle Investments and should not be considered to be a recommendation or solicitation to buy or sell any companies that may be mentioned.

The information, opinions, estimates or forecasts contained in this document were obtained from sources reasonably believed to be reliable and are subject to change at any time.

Engagement efforts outlined in this Viewpoint reflect the assets of a group of legal entities whose parent company is Columbia Threadneedle Investments UK International Limited and that formerly traded as BMO Global Asset Management EMEA. These entities are now part of Columbia Threadneedle Investments which is the asset management business of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. Engagement and voting services are also executed on behalf of reo® clients.

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