Biodiversity loss is an underestimated risk: climate, development and business perspectives
Organizer: IIED *this session is part of the Development & Climate Days
| This session is part of the Development & Climate Days.Biodiversity is essential for human life, yet we are losing biodiversity at unprecedented rates. This presents as much risk to our economy, society and environment as climate change does, but there is still much confusion and misperception about biodiversity – what it is, what it does, and why it matters. Biodiversity underpins nature’s ability to support a healthy environment. It directly supports export earnings, gross domestic product, and jobs in a wide variety of economic sectors from tourism to agriculture. Biodiversity has a direct impact on the livelihoods and income for billions of people, yet it is underestimated in its value.The impacts of biodiversity loss are severe, and stretch far beyond the direct loss of fluffy mammals and colourful plants. Biodiversity loss is contributing to food insecurity, exacerbating climate change, destabilising communities and affecting human health. Further, biodiversity loss disproportionately affects poor and vulnerable communities, many of which are already struggling to cope with the climate crisis. The true risks of biodiversity loss, including to achieving climate and development goals and ensuring business sustainability, are not well known. This event will bring together expert speakers from climate, development and business backgrounds to discuss why biodiversity matters and outline how biodiversity loss is a critical and underestimated risk. |
Speakers:
Joanna Elliot, Senior Conservation Director, Cross-cutting Programmes, Fauna & Flora International
Dilys Roe, Principal Researcher and Team Leader, Natural Resources, International Institute for Environment and Development
Natalie Seddon, Professor of Biodiversity at the University of Oxford and Director of the Nature-based Solutions Initiative
Liz Rogers, Vice President, Environmental Technology, BP International