Browsing by Subject "business and biodiversity"

Abstract As part of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework business are expected to make commitments for halting and reversing the loss of biodiversity. The political drivers are forcing ministries, regions, and cities but also companies to create their own strategies and actions to conserve biodiversity. Despite the considerable attention given to climate policies within businesses, there exists a lack of attention to the roles and responsibilities of businesses in conserving biodiversity. While concerns are escalating, many businesses seem less aware of the scale of their influence and the necessary actions needed to conserve biodiversity. Also, their understanding of the significance of actions concerning biodiversity loss remains relatively low. This study addresses the critical need for increased business involvement in multi-level and cross-sectoral biodiversity governance while emphasizing the leadership necessary to facilitate this endeavor. I aim to bridge this gap by identifying barriers and opportunities for enhancing business engagement in preserving biodiversity and investigating the emerging new leadership needs. This study examined the Business@Biodiversity network, which is the leading business network for biodiversity in Sweden. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with key stakeholders across various industries (n=12). These interviews assessed member companies’ awareness, commitment, and strategies toward biodiversity conservation. Through this context, the study seeks to clarify the underlying issues that hinder effective business involvement in biodiversity conservation, while capturing the opportunities for biodiversity-focused leadership. Results show that Swedish businesses face barriers such as regulatory complexities, and the absence of standardized measurements in engaging with biodiversity. However, they also recognize opportunities within a shifting labor market, underscoring the need for balanced regulations and collaborative platforms to enhance conservation efforts. Finally, this study suggests actionable areas for enhancing business involvement in biodiversity conservation, including prioritizing imperfect action over inaction, establishing a common language and baseline, leveraging political and economic instruments, and mainstreaming biodiversity. This research contributes to advancing the discourse on business engagement in biodiversity conservation, offering insights and recommendations to inform policy and practice, driving meaningful action toward preserving biodiversity.