There is a relative lack of systematic data and hence reporting in the area of impacts and dependencies of businesses on biodiversity.

In response to this the twelfth Conference of Parties (COP) (decision XII/10), aimed to achieve an understanding of the current situation with regard to business reporting on biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services through a review of the current schemes and research on this topic. The review was used to develop an initial framework of recommendations for reporting on biodiversity, called a Typology of Actions for reporting on business-related actions.

The report provided to Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI 1) was a review of existing government and stock exchange requirements on reporting as well as the existing reporting mechanisms available for businesses specifically around biodiversity related issues. The report can be found HERE.

Additional materials:

• A document reviewing the questions and categories used by the various reporting schemes can be found HERE.
  

• A consolidated version of this document (the categories used by the various reporting schemes along with the numbers of questions & schemes associated with each category) can be found HERE.
  

Further work on the typology of actions was requested with a view to providing draft guidance for consideration by the Subsidiary Body on Implementation at its second meeting. (COP 13 Decision XIII/3).

With financial support provided by the European Union, the subsequent research looked at businesses sustainability reports to assess the level, if any, of biodiversity reporting.

Hundred of company’s reports were analysed from a range of sectors and regions resulting a more concise typology of actions based on the research and the existing reporting schemes such as the Global reporting Initiative (GRI). The report is available HERE.

It is worth noting that at COP 13 in Cancun, a Business and Biodiversity Pledge was launched which requires signatories to report on their activities related to biodiversity.

Over 140 entities have signed the pledge and the secretariat is currently compiling the reports. In addition, several of the Global Partnership for Business and Biodiversity Initiatives have their own pledges: France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, India, Spain and Sri Lanka More information about the Global Partnership is available HERE.

Information on Business and Biodiversity Reporting

Please find below more information on business reporting on sustainability including biodiversity.

• Reporting matters 2017
  
• The KPMG Survey of Corporate Responsibility Reporting 2017
  
• Sustainability reporting and disclosure What does the future look like? 2016
  
• Corporate Biodiversity Reporting and Indicators: Situation Analysis & Recommendations
  
• The International <Integrated Reporting> Framework
  
• The GRI Sustainability Disclosure Database
  
• GRI 304: Biodiversity
  
• Carrots & Sticks database
  
• Carrots Sticks Global trends in sustainability reporting regulation and policy
  
• The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP)
  
• The Climate Disclosure Standards Board (CDSB)
  
• The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
  
• The International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC)
  
• The Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB)
  
• The Natural Capital Protocol Toolkit
  
• The Reporting Exchange
  
• The Sustainable Development Goals: a common language for corporate reporting on societal issues
  
• Business Reporting on the SDGs: An analysis of Goals and Targets
  
• The Sustainable Development Goals, integrated thinking and the integrated report
  
• Healthy ecosystem metric framework
  
• Global Biodiversity Score: measuring a company’s biodiversity footprint
  
• Biodiversity and ecosystem services fundamentals
  
• System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA)
  
• SEEA Experimental Ecosystem Accounting
  
• Wealth Accounting and the Valuation of Ecosystem Services
  
• Natural Capital Accounting and Valuation of Ecosystem Services
  
• Guidance for National Biodiversity Indicator Development and Use
  
• IBAT for Business