risk and opportunity

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Use of metrics when understanding corporate biodiversity risk and opportunity

December 2020

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Monday, 07 December 2020

2 New data, metrics and tools are available

Global Biodiversity Score

QH PDF PBF BII BFFI …

2

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1) Goslinget al 2020 https://doi.org/10.34892/4Q5V-GF37 2) Hansen et al 2020 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-019-0214-3

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What is a metric?

Frameworks Tools Metrics

Data

A mathematical representation of reality

Measured or modelled information

Packages of data and one or more metrics

Criteria and guidance for decision-making e.g. MSA – PDF

e.g. GLOBIO – ESA land-cover maps

e.g. GBS – LC-Impact

e.g. Biodiversity Impact Metric

framework – SBTN guidance

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4 Key questions for choosing a metric

How does it represent biodiversity

and impacts on it? Will the information feasibly be sufficiently granular and precise for my objectives, given

available input data?

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How to choose a biodiversity metric – key trade-offs

When choosing a biodiversity metric, there is a trade-off between

• Validity –accurate measures of the right things?

• Feasibility –cost and time?

• Completeness– essential aspects covered?

Validity

Feasibility Completeness

e.g.

Academic approaches

e.g.

Model-based approaches e.g.

covering one

aspect only

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6 A framework for understanding biodiversity metrics

Coverage Spatial

resolution Precision

Distinctiveness Landscape

context Stakeholder

concerns Biodiversity

elements Pressures Granularity

Consideration of biodiversity extent, condition and significance is well

established

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Case study: consumer goods company

• Seeking to develop biodiversity targets in alignment with global goals

• Existing carbon targets and detailed metrics / control measures for some impacts (e.g., ecotoxicity)

• >1000 ingredients

• Bulk of impacts from c.20 plant-based sources

• Variable but generally good data on source location and production practices

 A land occupancy approach based on a BIM framework¹ was identified as most appropriate

 Captured largest source of impacts

 Provided information that was clearly additional to existing data

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8 Example outputs:

Weighting for significance helps to understand and prioritise

Unweighted land occupancy

impact (MSA.ha) Weighted land occupancy (RR-weighted MSA.ha)

Sunflower oil

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Qualitative approach to supply chain risks

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10 Key points

• Feasible to assess biodiversity impacts and opportunities at scale and at a resolution sufficient to inform operational decision-making

• All biodiversity metrics are a simplification of reality

• Even imperfect metrics can drive change – if used with appropriate care

• Important to understand the assumptions a metric is making to be able to interpret the results and identify appropriate actions

• Key questions when choosing a metric are:

• how is biodiversity represented?

• will results be sufficiently granular for the intended use?

• Always need to contextualise results to understand implications

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Edward Pollard

Technical Director, The Biodiversity Consultancy

Edward.pollard@thebiodiversityconsultancy.com