Strategies, current actions, and future plans for managing impacts on biodiversity

Strategies, current actions, and future plans for managing impacts on biodiversity

• Reference Number: EN14
• Related Status: Reported
• GRI Status: Core GRI Indicator

Background
The EIB has remained true to EU objectives as they pertain to conservation. Supporting the Convention on Biological Biodiversity (1992), the 2010 EU Biodiversity Action Plan (2008) and habitat-based conventions, the EIB has ensured that critical habitats, defined as areas of particular ecological value and sensitivity, are not significantly impacted by Bank activities.
This action lies within a strategic framework for addressing biodiversity and ecosystem services issues. This framework includes: (i) a policy (reflected in the Statement), (ii) continued efforts to avoid and minimise the impact of lending operations (“Do No Harm”), (iii) applying emerging financial tools and resources, (iv) building capacity, promoting demand and finding financing partners and (v) forming strategic partnerships. The EIB has been supporting the evolving EU and international biodiversity agenda by setting standards, sharing knowledge and adding value through the application of the mitigation hierarchy, assessing new business opportunities and contributing to the transformation of existing markets.

What does it mean in concrete terms?
Setting standards
The EIB, in accordance with its Statement, aims at mainstreaming biodiversity not only in its own activities but by ensuring that the projects it finances “do no harm”. The Bank takes account of direct and indirect project-related impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services and aims to identify any significant residual impacts. For the protection and conservation of biodiversity, the mitigation hierarchy including biodiversity offsets using the principles of the Business and Biodiversity Offset Programme (BBOP) applies. The EIB is committed to supporting a platform for a robust approach to ecosystem conservation.
Adding value through mitigation
The EIB proactively supports promoters through the provision of technical assistance or help with project preparation to identify and finance operations designed to reverse environmental degradation and to promote the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources and ecological services.
Adding value by assessing new business opportunities
Given the new evolving policy agenda where the link between biodiversity, ecosystem services and human welfare has gained significant attention and set the stage for a sustained market for environmental goods and services, the EIB is engaging in opportunities to support the supply of, and demand for, biodiversity protection. This is achieved by promoting pro-biodiversity enterprises and markets for ecosystem services.
Adding value by contributing to the transformation of existing markets either directly or indirectly
The EIB is supporting the European Commission’s Directorate General for Environment (the EIB has been explicitly named in the EU Biodiversity Strategy) to develop innovative financial and market-based instruments to enhance the value of environmental goods and services and to facilitate the sustainable flow of financial resources earmarked for the conservation and management of these goods and services.
Adding value through strategic partnerships
The EIB continues to work closely together with the European Commission’s Directorate General for Environment, businesses, NGOs, International Financing Institutions, and other international institutions. The Bank has been invited by the European Commission’s Directorate General for Environment to support its work in defining a common approach and appropriate metrics for “no net loss”.
In addition the Bank has a number of relationships with specialised institutions, notably Sterling University (through EIBURS), the European Space Agency, the World Conservation Monitoring Centre-UNEP, RSPB, Fauna Flora International, IUCN (where we have an MOU) and BBOP (where we are strongly considering becoming members) amongst others.