IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/bstrat/v28y2019i7p1481-1495.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The evolution of corporate no net loss and net positive impact biodiversity commitments: Understanding appetite and addressing challenges

Author

Listed:
  • Gyan Charitha de Silva
  • Eugenie Christine Regan
  • Edward Henry Beattie Pollard
  • Prue Frances Elizabeth Addison

Abstract

The World Economic Forum has identified biodiversity loss as an increasingly significant and impactful risk facing business. However, businesses themselves can negatively impact on biodiversity. Recognizing this, a number of companies have developed their own biodiversity commitments, including those to achieve a no net loss (NNL) or net positive impact (NPI) on biodiversity by balancing or outweighing any negative impacts through mitigation activities. We reviewed corporate‐level NNL and NPI commitments over the last two decades to establish the extent of their adoption, retraction, and scientific foundation. Between 2001 and 2016, 66 companies had made NNL/NPI environmental commitments. Thirty three of these 66 companies made specific biodiversity commitments. The numbers of companies making commitments increased in that period. However, some commitments were retracted, or their status became unclear, leaving only 18 companies with active NNL/NPI biodiversity commitments in 2016. Added to this, many of the commitments are lacking science‐based criteria that would allow more transparent and systematic assessment of corporate activities. Thus, although commitments are being made, they may not be delivering as intended. To secure real biodiversity gains, we recommend advancing methods to assess biodiversity risks to businesses, and using science‐based criteria to deepen corporate commitments and actions. Concerted effort from all sectors is needed to halt and reverse biodiversity loss, and the “biodiversity policy super‐year” of 2020 is the perfect moment for business to deliver through well‐framed and implemented commitments to biodiversity NPI.

Suggested Citation

  • Gyan Charitha de Silva & Eugenie Christine Regan & Edward Henry Beattie Pollard & Prue Frances Elizabeth Addison, 2019. "The evolution of corporate no net loss and net positive impact biodiversity commitments: Understanding appetite and addressing challenges," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(7), pages 1481-1495, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:bstrat:v:28:y:2019:i:7:p:1481-1495
    DOI: 10.1002/bse.2379
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.2379
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/bse.2379?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Martine Maron & Susie Brownlie & Joseph W. Bull & Megan C. Evans & Amrei von Hase & Fabien Quétier & James E. M. Watson & Ascelin Gordon, 2018. "The many meanings of no net loss in environmental policy," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 1(1), pages 19-27, January.
    2. Olivier Boiral, 2016. "Accounting for the Unaccountable: Biodiversity Reporting and Impression Management," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 135(4), pages 751-768, June.
    3. Olivier Boiral & Iñaki Heras‐Saizarbitoria & Marie‐Christine Brotherton, 2018. "Corporate Biodiversity Management through Certifiable Standards," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(3), pages 389-402, March.
    4. Sean L. Maxwell & Richard A. Fuller & Thomas M. Brooks & James E. M. Watson, 2016. "Biodiversity: The ravages of guns, nets and bulldozers," Nature, Nature, vol. 536(7615), pages 143-145, August.
    5. Ralph Adler & Mansi Mansi & Rakesh Pandey & Carolyn Stringer, 2017. "United Nations Decade on Biodiversity," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 30(8), pages 1711-1745, October.
    6. Georgina M. Mace & Mike Barrett & Neil D. Burgess & Sarah E. Cornell & Robin Freeman & Monique Grooten & Andy Purvis, 2018. "Aiming higher to bend the curve of biodiversity loss," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 1(9), pages 448-451, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Michael Kühnen & Samanthi Silva & Rüdiger Hahn, 2022. "From negative to positive sustainability performance measurement and assessment? A qualitative inquiry drawing on framing effects theory," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(5), pages 1985-2001, July.
    2. Marlen S. Krause & Nils Droste & Bettina Matzdorf, 2021. "What makes businesses commit to nature conservation?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(2), pages 741-755, February.
    3. Antonio Corvino & Silvio Bianchi Martini & Federica Doni, 2021. "Extinction accounting and accountability: Empirical evidence from the west European tissue industry," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(5), pages 2556-2570, July.
    4. R, Hall & E, Topham & E, João, 2022. "Environmental Impact Assessment for the decommissioning of offshore wind farms," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    5. Madlen Sobkowiak, 2023. "The making of imperfect indicators for biodiversity: A case study of UK biodiversity performance measurement," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(1), pages 336-352, January.
    6. Milner-Gulland, E.J. & Addison, Prue & Arlidge, William & Baker, Julia & Booth, Hollie & Brooks, Thomas & Bull, Joseph & Burgass, Michael & Ekstrom, Jonathan & Ermgassen, Sophus zu, 2020. "Four Steps for the Earth: mainstreaming the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework," SocArXiv gjps6, Center for Open Science.
    7. Eugene Kang & Nguyen Bao Lam, 2023. "The impact of environmental disclosure on initial public offering underpricing: Sustainable development in Singapore," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(1), pages 119-133, January.
    8. Houdet, Joël & Ding, Helen & Quétier, Fabien & Addison, Prue & Deshmukh, Pravir, 2020. "Adapting double-entry bookkeeping to renewable natural capital: An application to corporate net biodiversity impact accounting and disclosure," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 45(C).
    9. T. B. White & S. O. Petrovan & L. A. Bennun & T. Butterworth & A. P. Christie & H. Downey & S. B. Hunter & B. R. Jobson & S. O. S. E. zu Ermgassen & W. J. Sutherland, 2023. "Principles for using evidence to improve biodiversity impact mitigation by business," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(7), pages 4719-4733, November.
    10. Prue F.E. Addison & P. J. Stephenson & Joseph W. Bull & Giulia Carbone & Mark Burgman & Michael J. Burgass & Leah R. Gerber & Pippa Howard & Nadine McCormick & Louise McRae & Kim E. Reuter & Malcolm S, 2020. "Bringing sustainability to life: A framework to guide biodiversity indicator development for business performance management," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(8), pages 3303-3313, December.
    11. Meghan Beck-O’Brien & Stefan Bringezu, 2021. "Biodiversity Monitoring in Long-Distance Food Supply Chains: Tools, Gaps and Needs to Meet Business Requirements and Sustainability Goals," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-23, July.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Prue F.E. Addison & P. J. Stephenson & Joseph W. Bull & Giulia Carbone & Mark Burgman & Michael J. Burgass & Leah R. Gerber & Pippa Howard & Nadine McCormick & Louise McRae & Kim E. Reuter & Malcolm S, 2020. "Bringing sustainability to life: A framework to guide biodiversity indicator development for business performance management," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(8), pages 3303-3313, December.
    2. T. B. White & S. O. Petrovan & L. A. Bennun & T. Butterworth & A. P. Christie & H. Downey & S. B. Hunter & B. R. Jobson & S. O. S. E. zu Ermgassen & W. J. Sutherland, 2023. "Principles for using evidence to improve biodiversity impact mitigation by business," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(7), pages 4719-4733, November.
    3. Mitzi Cubilla‐Montilla & Ana‐Belén Nieto‐Librero & Ma Purificación Galindo‐Villardón & Ma Purificación Vicente Galindo & Isabel‐María Garcia‐Sanchez, 2019. "Are cultural values sufficient to improve stakeholder engagement human and labour rights issues?," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(4), pages 938-955, July.
    4. Jan Bebbington & Tom Cuckston & C. Feger, 2021. "Biodiversity," Post-Print hal-03746729, HAL.
    5. Lee Roberts & Monomita Nandy & Abeer Hassan & Suman Lodh & Ahmed A. Elamer, 2022. "Corporate Accountability Towards Species Extinction Protection: Insights from Ecologically Forward-Thinking Companies," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 178(3), pages 571-595, July.
    6. Milner-Gulland, E.J. & Addison, Prue & Arlidge, William & Baker, Julia & Booth, Hollie & Brooks, Thomas & Bull, Joseph & Burgass, Michael & Ekstrom, Jonathan & Ermgassen, Sophus zu, 2020. "Four Steps for the Earth: mainstreaming the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework," SocArXiv gjps6, Center for Open Science.
    7. Upekha Atupola & Paola Vola & Nuwan Gunarathne & Elisa Truant & Lorenzo Gelmini, 2023. "Corporate biodiversity management and organisational change mechanisms: The case of a tea producer in Sri Lanka," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(2), pages 791-801, March.
    8. Thomas B. White & Leonardo R. Viana & Geneviève Campbell & Claire Elverum & Leon A. Bennun, 2021. "Using technology to improve the management of development impacts on biodiversity," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(8), pages 3502-3516, December.
    9. Antonio Corvino & Silvio Bianchi Martini & Federica Doni, 2021. "Extinction accounting and accountability: Empirical evidence from the west European tissue industry," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(5), pages 2556-2570, July.
    10. Luxton, Sarah & Smith, Greg & Williams, Kristen & Ferrier, Simon & Bond, Anthelia & Prober, Suzanne, 2023. "An introduction to financial opportunities, ecological concepts, and risks underpinning aspirations for a nature-positive economy," OSF Preprints cu8rj, Center for Open Science.
    11. C. Feger & Laurent Mermet, 2021. "Advances in accounting for biodiversity and ecosystems: a typology focusing upon the environmental results imperative [Innovations comptables pour la biodiversité et les écosystèmes : une typologie," Post-Print hal-02549016, HAL.
    12. Kouassi Marius Honoré Aké & Olivier Boiral, 2023. "Sustainable development and stakeholder engagement in the agri‐food sector: Exploring the nexus between biodiversity conservation and information technology," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(1), pages 334-348, February.
    13. Olivier Boiral & Iñaki Heras‐Saizarbitoria & Marie‐Christine Brotherton, 2019. "Improving corporate biodiversity management through employee involvement," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(5), pages 688-698, July.
    14. Kristian Steensen Nielsen & Theresa M. Marteau & Jan M. Bauer & Richard B. Bradbury & Steven Broad & Gayle Burgess & Mark Burgman & Hilary Byerly & Susan Clayton & Dulce Espelosin & Paul J. Ferraro & , 2021. "Biodiversity conservation as a promising frontier for behavioural science," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 5(5), pages 550-556, May.
    15. Emblemsvåg, Jan, 2022. "Wind energy is not sustainable when balanced by fossil energy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 305(C).
    16. Erlantz Allur & Iñaki Heras-Saizarbitoria & Olivier Boiral & Francesco Testa, 2018. "Quality and Environmental Management Linkage: A Review of the Literature," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-15, November.
    17. Galina Viktorovna Morozova & Irina Dmitrievna Porfireva, 2021. "Features of Information Coverage of Regional Environmental Policy on the Instance of the Republic of Tatarstan," International Journal of Financial Research, International Journal of Financial Research, Sciedu Press, vol. 12(2), pages 210-218, April.
    18. Ayman Issa & Mohammad A. A. Zaid, 2023. "Firm's biodiversity initiatives disclosure and board gender diversity: A multi‐country analysis of corporations operating in Europe," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(7), pages 4991-5007, November.
    19. Charles H. Cho & Matias Laine & Robin W. Roberts & Michelle Rodrigue, 2018. "The Frontstage and Backstage of Corporate Sustainability Reporting: Evidence from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Bill," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 152(3), pages 865-886, October.
    20. Hélène Barbé & Nathalie Frascaria-Lacoste, 2021. "Integrating Ecology into Land Planning and Development: Between Disillusionment and Hope, Questioning the Relevance and Implementation of the Mitigation Hierarchy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-16, November.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:bstrat:v:28:y:2019:i:7:p:1481-1495. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1099-0836 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.