Together with its member companies and associations, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has monitored the CBD since it was signed at the Rio ‘Earth Summit’ in 1992. ICC takes part as a representative of the business community during CBD meetings. During COP-9, ICC will focus on sustainable agriculture, technology transfer and Access and Benefit-sharing (ABS).

I am convinced that biodiversity is important for business in many ways! I think that for many German companies, however, the tangible links between biodiversity and business operations are not always clear. It is, therefore, of great importance that COP-9 will take place in Bonn. This offers the opportunity to discuss biodiversity issues more intensively in Germany and will hopefully lead to a clearer understanding of the linkages between business and biodiversity. ICC will follow the discussions and contribute to the dialogue — there will also be an ICC-exhibit and side events.

From my point of view, the fundamental conflict concerning biodiversity is not primarily between business and nature, but between man and nature. By 2050, the world population is projected to rise from 6 to 9 billion. This means that the demand for land and areas to be used for settlement, traffic and agriculture will increase dramatically.

In the following, I would like to put forward three theses in order to explain where business is already contributing to biodiversity and also where I see further potential: Already contributing to biodiversity Thesis 1: Many German companies are already contributing to biodiversity — often as part of environmental and resource management — without explicitly referring to ‘biodiversity’.

This is the case, often, when companies initiate corporate programmes for climate protection and energy reduction. As climate change is a major cause of biodiversity loss, they are thus usually contributing, indirectly, to biodiversity conservation.

Since the 1990s, most of the big companies have been implementing sustainability reporting systems. These measure, list and describe in detail the impact of their business activities on the environment. The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines, for instance, cover aspects relating to biodiversity. The GRI has also published a Biodiversity Resource Document to help companies address biodiversity in the context of sustainability reporting.

The business case
Thesis 2: Conservation of biodiversity is already a business case for companies. Ideally, the conservation of biodiversity, including efficient resource management, should be linked with the company’s core business. In this case, responsible companies can contribute in a credible manner to biodiversity. A classic win-win situation is in the tourism sector.

Tourism is directly dependent on healthy environments beautiful landscapes, etc. It is thus in the long-term interest of companies in that sector to conserve biodiversity. TUI, a German travel company, hi(1).

Sustainable agriculture is of central interest for the nutrition of a rising world population. Here, good agricultural practices can be combined with the conservation of biodiversity. The maintenance of functioning ecosystems, such as water supply and soil protection, play a central role. Efforts by Bayer CropScience are highlighted in the present issue.

Opportunities
Thesis 3: Biodiversity is a business opportunity. The application of biological principles to the study and design of technology and products is known as bionics. One of the best-known bionics examples with regard to a water- and soil-repellent application is the lotus effect. But also new natural materials for cosmetics or genetic resources for medicine generate new products and business activity.

Environmental technologies can contribute to solving problems such as that caused by invasive alien species. Container vessels, for instance, take up water for stabilization — depending on their cargo. When arriving at the port of destination, they empty these water tanks with 5,000 to 50,000 tons. In doing so, non-native microorganisms and also fish, shells or crabs are introduced into the existing ecosystem and might harm it. Evonik Industries, that holds a top position in Chemicals, has developed in cooperation with Hamann, mechanical engineering company, a sophisticated ballast water management system, named SEDNA® which disinfects water without chlorine. Thus, ballast water tanks can be emptied at the port of destination.

These are only a few examples that clearly indicate where German companies are already contributing to biodiversity and where further potential could be expected. Much more will be highlighted at COP-9.

Angelika Pohlenz is Secretary General, International Chamber of Commerce, Germany (ICC Germany) .

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(1) see Business.2010, 2007, 2(1).