Business urged to face up to biodiversity impact

An EU-funded report has warned companies that they must stop ignoring the problems created by their exploitation of ecosystems. The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity report (TEEB), which focuses on implications for businesses, reiterates key findings in a study published last year on the economics of ecosystems and biodiversity. It also argues that new markets for biodiversity and ecosystem services, including certified products and offsets, may be worth €280bn by 2020.

The report recommends that companies develop biodiversity accounting systems, set targets and report on results. An EU roadmap on resource use, including biodiversity, is scheduled for 2011.

The TEEB report is available here:

http://www.teebweb.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=ubcryE0OUbw%3d&tabid=1021&language=en-US