News & Updates
Report: Red Lines for a Green Future
The new report, “Red Lines for a Green Future: Exploring Exclusionary Approaches to Protecting Biodiversity and People”, recommends aligning with the Banks and Biodiversity Initiative’s proposed No Go areas as a basis for creating exclusionary policies as a means to safeguard critical ecosystems from harmful development in China and abroad.
Report: Financing for Biodiverse Futures?
A new report from Friends of the Earth US explains how banks and financiers must align with the GBF and develop a biodiversity plan to stop and reverse biodiversity loss, while also protecting Indigenous Peoples and affected communities. The report, “Financing for Biodiverse Futures? Key Considerations for Financial Institutions to Stop and Reverse Biodiversity Loss,” discusses how banks and financiers can develop an effective biodiversity plan.
Why and how the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development must improve its biodiversity standards
Humans cannot live without biodiversity or a stable climate, which are mutually reinforcing. Both are needed to ensure food, drinking water, medicines, clean air and temperature regulation. Climate chaos is already impacting biodiversity, among others through wildfires, floods and droughts, but also by enabling the spread of pests, diseases and invasive species. But biodiversity protection and restoration is also essential to limit climate change. Download the full briefing paper by Pippa Gallop and Andrey Ralev.
Indigenous Peoples, Biodiversity, and the Responsibilities of Financial Institutions
In my native language, Tz’utujil, as in many other Indigenous languages, there is no direct translation for “ecosystem” or “biodiversity.” Instead, we use the compound noun, “Ruuwaach Uleew,” to refer to Mother Earth, to everything that exists, living and nonliving. Indigenous Peoples worldwide have been engaging in ecosystem management and biodiversity conservation since time immemorial. Although we may call it by different names and understand it through different lenses, we do this through our Traditional Ecological Knowledge. Traditional Ecological Knowledge is experiential knowledge developed over millennia based on the intimate relationship with the web of life. It can
98 civil society organizations call upon all banks globally to produce and publish a transition plan to stop and reverse the biodiversity crisis
On the first anniversary of the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), 101 civil society organizations call upon all banks to produce and publish a transition plan that is aligned with the goals and targets of the GBF and the Paris Agreement, by October 2024.
Briefing Paper #8: Iconic, Transboundary Ecosystems
No Go area 8: Iconic, Transboundary Ecosystems explains why it is critical for banks and financiers to prohibit direct and indirect financing to harmful activities which negatively impact iconic, transboundary ecosystems. As transboundary ecosystems span across different jurisdictions and management, the protection of iconic, transboundary ecosystems demands protecting the entire ecosystem, rather than just pockets or fragments. For instance, iconic ecosystems like the Amazon may soon collapse due to fragmentation caused by deforestation and extractive activities simultaneously occurring across Amazon countries. This paper offers key takeaways for banks and financiers on how to protect iconic, transboundary ecosystems and
Briefing Paper #7: Areas Where the Free, Prior & Informed Consent of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Have Not Been Obtained
No Go area 7: Areas where Free, Prior and Informed Consent has not been obtained by Indigenous Peoples and local communities demonstrates the vital role of Indigenous Peoples and local communities play in protecting biodiversity. It explains the nuances in how Free, Prior, Informed Consent (FPIC) is a unique right to Indigenous Peoples guaranteed under international law, whereas FPIC can be used as a best practice in engaging local communities. The paper provides useful lessons and key takeaways on how the international banking sector can establish robust Indigenous Peoples policies.
Briefing Paper #6: Protected and At-Risk Marine and Coastal Ecosystems
No Go area 6: Protected or at-risk marine and coastland ecosystems offers key takeaways on how the international banking sector can strengthen policies to fully protect at-risk and protected marine and coastland ecosystems and respect the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
Six months after the UN Biodiversity Conference, 74 civil society organizations call on financial institutions to protect biodiversity and take action in implementing the Global Biodiversity Framework
Six months since its adoption, banks and financiers have yet to develop concrete plans to implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).
The TNFD Shows That Global Corporations Will Not Solve The Biodiversity Crisis
Today 62 civil society organizations and networks – whose members include over 370 groups across 85+ countries on six continents – have sent an open letter to the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) highlighting that its final draft fails to address some of its worst flaws that will facilitate greenwashing.
Standard Chartered and SMBC rule out funding the East African Crude Oil Pipeline
Mounting pressure from climate and human rights activists has led numerous lenders to back out of the controversial East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project. This month, Standard Chartered Bank and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) ruled out of financing the project, adding to the list of 25 banks and 23 insurance companies that have publicly committed to not support EACOP.
Key Questions To Ask Of TNFD’s Final Draft
The Forests & Finance coalition published a blog with a summary of key issues regarding the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD).