The workshop resulted in agreement to develop a Natural Capital Statement to further embed biodiversity and ecosystem services (BES) into the finance sector.
UNEP FI will consolidate input from the workshop and follow up with meeting participants and interested parties to establish a way forward toward a potential statement on the issue.
29 April 2011: The UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI), together with Hypovereinsbank, convened a workshop titled “Towards a Collaborative Effort by Financial Institutions to Integrate Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services into Business,” in Munich, Germany, on 4 April 2011.
According to UNEP FI, approximately 35 institutions, including banks, investors, rating agencies and NGO representatives, came together to discuss the current recognition and understanding of natural capital in the finance sector, as well as the rationale behind developing a statement to further embed biodiversity and ecosystem services (BES) in the finance sector. Participants also discussed: impacts of natural capital on finance; natural capital issues as drivers of shareholder value; challenges to integrating BES in the finance sector; and biodiversity principles.
A key outcome of the workshop was in-principle agreement to develop a Natural Capital Statement to further embed BES into the finance sector. In order to advance the discussion and momentum for a potential statement, UNEP FI will consolidate input from the workshop and follow up with meeting participants and interested parties to establish a way forward. [UNEP FI Website]