Biodiversity
Definition
Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth at all levels, from genes to ecosystems, and the ecological processes that sustain them. It encompasses the diversity within species, between species, and of ecosystems. Loss of biodiversity threatens ecosystem services that human societies depend on, including food production, clean water, and climate regulation.
Why It Matters
Biodiversity is rising rapidly on the ESG agenda, with the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) driving corporate reporting expectations. Companies with significant land-use or supply chain impacts are under growing pressure to assess and disclose biodiversity risks.
Related Terms
Nature-Based Solutions
Nature-based solutions are actions that protect, sustainably manage, or restore natural ecosystems to address societal challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and disaster risk. Examples include reforestation, wetland restoration, and sustainable agriculture. They provide co-benefits for both people and biodiversity.
Water Stewardship
Water stewardship is the responsible management and use of freshwater resources through stakeholder-inclusive processes that consider social, cultural, environmental, and economic outcomes. It goes beyond simple water efficiency to address shared water challenges at the catchment level. Good water stewardship balances the needs of all water users and ecosystems.
SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals)
The Sustainable Development Goals are 17 interconnected global goals adopted by all UN Member States in 2015 as a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet by 2030. They address challenges including poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, and injustice. Organisations increasingly map their ESG strategies and impacts to specific SDGs.