biodiversity offsets: mileage, methods and (maybe) markets “beyond carbon - emerging markets for...
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Biodiversity offsets: mileage, methods and (maybe) markets
“Beyond carbon - emerging markets for ecosystem services”Katoomba VI Locarno, Switzerland 1 November 2003
Kerry ten Kate
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Great idea!
I’ve looked at something like this
Difficult showing causation
Difficult disaggregating biodiv from security, human rights etc.
But let’s look at it . . . .
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MIME
Suggestions, please, for how to mime:
-- biodiversity
-- offset
-- currency
. . . . . . well maybe not.
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Can we make the offset idea work or is it mad?
Where did the idea come from?
Benefit-sharing is required in CBD in the context of access to genetic resources. (Global annual market between US$500-800bn. But NO REAL MARKET DEMAND so few benefits shared.)
Nice if we could share the benefits (and costs) of ecosystem services.
BUT
Ecosystem services are generally free goods.
There’s no mechanism/trigger (unlike CBD Article 15 & national access laws).
SO . . .
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Can we make the offset idea work or is it mad?
How about getting companies make a direct impact on biodiversity (ie through physical operations, not their footprint) to commit to offset any unavoidable, direct harm they do?
The
“no net loss”
commitment
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Why voluntary?
Two reasons:
(1) Policy takes ages
Biodiversity is going down the tubes
Kyoto won’t help in the first commitment period
There’s no clear plan to deliver the CBD/WSSD 2010 goal
(“substantial reduction in loss of biodiversity by 2010”)
MEAs - lack of political will and the International Treaty on PGRFA just took us 7 years to negotiate!
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Why voluntary?
Second reason:
(1) Investors have a mandate with investee companies
Insight and other investors, as shareholders, can encourage voluntary compliance by investee companies with best practice
$US 1,000 bn of assets under management for SRI in the UK alone
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Biodiversity offsets: mileage, methods and (maybe) markets
[[[Context & key questions for a mainstream investor]]]
Current experience with biodiversity offsets
Basis and challenges
Conclusions and next steps
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Key questions for a mainstream investor
[[[Context: Insight is the asset manager for Halifax Bank Of Scotland
(HBOS). £67.7 bn under management. 300 pension funds and > 2m
retail clients. Engagement across whole portfolio. Working on integration.]]]
Key questions:
Could voluntary biodiversity offsets by companies work? Or would a regulatory regime be needed?
Could the political, scientific and logistical challenges with offset be overcome and companies motivated to participate?
What role could investors play?
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Experience with biodiversity offsets
Offsets required by legislation US Clean Water Act 1972 Section 404(b)(1) UK Electricity Act 1989 Schedule 9 UK Habitats Regulations 1994
‘Enabling’ policy framework US Endangered Species Act Tenure & rights; conservation law; concession contracts HGAs/PSAs
Voluntary offsets Individual companies: Mining & Minerals; Oil & Gas; Utilities Principles: ‘no harm’; ‘minimise/mitigate’; ‘maintaining ecosystems’; ‘offset’; ‘positive contribution’ EBI; ICMM
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Potential benefits of corporate biodiversity offset commitments
Conservation: Positive contributions to conservation by companies
Flexibility: Change location, scale of rehabilitation Trade Third party implementation
Efficiency: Pick most cost-effective option - use flexibility
Effectiveness: Maximise biodiversity value - select area Bang for buck
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Basis & challenges
Basis: No net loss Maintain functional ecosystems & species representativeness
Currency: ‘Not all hectares are created equal’ Habitat function assessment methods - crude, multiplicity, no
consensusNeed reliable, inexpensive methods to measure ecosystem services
Where: As near original site as possible? Similar ecosystem? Internationally tradeable?
Motivation: Business case for voluntary, ‘beyond compliance’ measures: license to operate, reputation, competitive advantage, reduce liabilities Is this sufficient to encourage voluntary offset commitments?
Mistrust: Public/NGOs: Genuine contribution or license to trash? Companies & government: fear of criticism.
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Conclusions and next steps
See: www.insightinvestment.com/Corporate/responsibility/project/biodiver
sity.asp
Conclusions Potential conservation and business benefits from offsets merit
further consideration.
Scientific, logistical and political hurdles to cross.
Next steps Get your feedback and suggestions:
Research project.Part of the HBOS Group. Issued by Insight Investment Management Limited. Registered Office 33 Old Broad Street, London EC2N 1HZ. Registered No. 02111149. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority