In rapidly expanding Asian economies, business is a key contributor to biodiversity loss and it further impacts on human rights; however, business is also a key part of the solution.

WHAT IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT?

BIODIVERISTY AND B+HR

Many Asian countries are beginning to align their biodiversity action planning with the GBF’s targets for 2030 and 2050, adding to expectations of corporate responsibility on biodiversity.

The GBF also provides that “implementation of the Framework should follow a human rights-based approach,” and calls on countries to ensure protection of environmental human rights defenders.

LARGER CORPORATES PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN INFLUENCING IN THEIR VALUE CHAINS

Considering the dense population of MSMEs in Asia and the challenge of managing them individually due to their fragmented nature, the adoption of a value chain approach becomes crucial.

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Drag the sectors into the correct frame

    • Industry Impacts

    The report offers a view into three sectors that place the most stress on nature in Asia. It focuses on the food and beverage, energy, and infrastructure value chains, which together account for the majority of human pressure on biodiversity globally.

    The food and beverage sector alone is responsible for over 50 percent of total pressure. In Asia, agriculture and related sectors such as forestry and fishing account for over 10 percent of many countries’ GDPs, against a global average of 4.3 percent
    Asia’s high urbanization rates also help drive demand for infrastructure. Together with transportation, infrastructure drives 25 percent of overall biodiversity pressure.
    The energy sector accounts for about 10 percent of biodiversity pressure globally, and Asia’s rapidly growing energy needs—as well as its production of fossil fuels, especially coal—make it a key contributor to biodiversity loss..

    Other sectors – such as textiles and cosmetics also drive strong biodiversity and human rights impacts on specific countries.