The French development bank AFD, responsible investor Sycomore Asset Management, the Dutch impact investor Pymwymic and pension fund PGGM have joined the Partnership for Biodiversity Accounting Financials (PBAF), a partnership of financial institutions that are committed to develop a global standard for biodiversity impact assessment and disclosure. This allows them to calculate their biodiversity footprint and take targeted action to restore and protect biodiversity. Today, the partnership consists of 25 members in 6 countries.
Roel Nozeman, senior advisor biodiversity at ASN Bank and PBAF-initiator comments: “We are excited to welcome AFD, Pymwymic, Sycomore Asset Management and PGGM to our partnership. Together we will work actively on a global standard to measure and report the impact of our loans and investments on biodiversity. It is a much needed starting point to reverse nature loss and contribute to the protection and restoration of our ecosystems.”
In 2021 PBAF experienced a large growth in partners and supporters. In February, fifteen other institutions joined the partnership: ABN AMRO Bank, APG, Achmea Investment Management, a.s.r. vermogensbeheer, BNP Paribas, de Volksbank, Finance in Motion, FirstRand Group, NN Investment Partners, NWB Bank, Piraeus Financial Holdings, Rabobank, Rathbone Greenbank Investments, UFF African Agri Investments and Van Lanschot Kempen.
Roel Nozeman: “Many institutions realise that loss of biodiversity poses a major threat, both to society and our economy, and that quick action is required now. On behalf of all members, we call on other financials to join and cooperate in our shared ambition.”
2021: updated version of the PBAF standard
In 2020, the partnership presented its first Common Ground Report at a UN biodiversity summit, describing the common metrics for measuring positive and negative impacts of investments on biodiversity. The following step for the PBAF-members is to present an update version of the first PBAF report in 2021, which includes a deep dive in a number of topics. To achieve this, the members team up in the following groups:
- Working group focussed on agricultural;
- Working group for Asset Managers;
- Working group focussed on Positive impacts.
Biodiversity loss
Biodiversity, the variety of life on earth and the (eco)systems that sustain this life, is at great risk to disappear all around the world. Studies show that 1 million plant and animal species are threatening to become extinct. This loss of biodiversity poses a major threat, both to society and our economy: many commodities and economic sectors are dependent on our ecosystems, either directly or indirectly. An estimated 50% of global economic value generation is dependent on the variety of plants, animals and insects.
