The Biodiversity Consultancy Ltd

A very interesting few days spent with my two colleagues on the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) independent Environment Review Group (ERG) Tammy Tremblay and Bill Ross discussing technical aspects of impact assessment with NWMO colleagues Melissa Mayhew, Jessica Perritt, Allan Webster and Bob Watts. We took a fascinating tour of Ontario Power Generation‘s Nuclear Sustainability Services – Western Waste Management Facility in Bruce County, Ontario in the traditional territory of Saugeen Ojibway Nation. It’s a pleasure to advise the NWMO in its endeavour to manage biodiversity related risks of constructing and operating a deep geological repository for the long-term management of Canada’s used nuclear fuel. We’ve worked hard and had lively discussions on developing strategy and processes for the challenges of predicting future conditions for an impact assessment of a project with a 150+ year duration, accounting for uncertainty, addressing cumulative impacts, and the essential alignment of Indigenous knowledge and western knowledge systems and science. The Biodiversity Consultancy Ltd

Do you know that the Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence came into effect on 25 July 2024? This presents a valuable opportunity for businesses to promote sustainable and responsible corporate behaviour within their operations and global value chains, safeguard human rights, and contribute to a healthier environment, thereby establishing a new global standard.   Guiding your business towards a sustainable future involves integrating responsible sourcing and adhering to mandatory environmental and human rights due diligence. This process necessitates a scientific approach and can often be complex and challenging. Share your challenge with us and discover how we can assist you: https://lnkd.in/e7tKdatG #Sustainability #DueDiligence #CSDDD

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a powerful approach to help organisations understand the impacts of entire company value chains on biodiversity. Several reporting frameworks (e.g. CSRD, TNFD) ask companies to take a whole lifecycle approach – recognizing that large impacts can be embedded within the lifecycles of business products and activities. But it is important to interrogate the outputs of these models, and understand the sources of uncertainty that can influence the results – which are often poorly understood and communicated.   In a recent pre-print - https://lnkd.in/dS-MwtRT - we outline the risks and opportunities of using LCA approaches for biodiversity footprinting. We describe the various sources of uncertainty, and show how these can have substantial influence on estimates of biodiversity impact. Without a clear understanding of these uncertainties, there are thus risks to organizations using LCA results as part of biodiversity strategy design. We outline clear opportunities for gaining a more robust knowledge of these uncertainties, and provide recommendations for using LCAs to help ensure they guide appropriate and effective action to mitigate business impacts on biodiversity. The article below summarizes the initial take-aways from the work. The full pre-print is available online, so we’d love to hear your thoughts and feedback. Please do get in touch if you’d like to discuss. Thanks to all coauthors (Alice Bouchez, Isobel Hawkins, Sophus zu Ermgassen, Joe W Bull, Harriet Bartlett, Leon Bennun, Lizzie Biggs, Hollie Booth, Mike Clark, Sami El Geneidy, Graham Prescott, Laura Sonter, Malcolm Starkey, E.J. Milner-Gulland) and Talitha Bromwich who jointly led the work.

The Biodiversity Consultancy Ltd is very pleased to have supported the development of ESMAP - Energy Sector Management Assistance Program's Scenario's for Offshore Wind Development in Brazil - through identifying priority biodiversity values that need to be taken into account in planning and delivery. Addressing environmental and social risks of #offshorewind during early spatial planning can smooth project permitting and financing processes - reducing costs and avoiding delays for developers - as well as improving outcomes for communities and biodiversity.

It’s great to hear some updates from Suzanne R Livingstone in Malawi!

Hydropower is the single largest source of renewable energy, and countries with hydropower potential have an immense opportunity to plan a transition towards a sustainable future by utilising this potential. However, unplanned hydropower projects can lead to irreversible biodiversity loss, which can affect the global economy. From July 17-18, HYDROVISION International in Denver will convene over 1,200 hydro enthusiasts, including power producers, utilities, consultants, major users, and engineering firms from 50+ countries. This gathering aims to foster knowledge-sharing and innovative solutions within the industry. Our Technical Director of Renewables, Mihai Coroi, will participate in both days of the conference. If you're attending, we invite you to connect with Mihai to explore collaboration opportunities and solutions for addressing challenges in the hydropower sector. #Renewables #Hydropower #NaturePositive #Sustainability

Fundamentals of Ecology 📽️ Over the last few months the great Cambridge professor William Sutherland has been posting a series of short films online. Bill is a giant in the field and a superb communicator. 👨🎓whether you are a seasoned ecologist, or a business executive I heartily recommend watching these to understand the essential elements of ecology and nature conservation in bite size chunks Oliver Dauert Rob Wreglesworth Nature4Climate Business for Nature

The EU recently passed the Nature Restoration Law, which sets a target of restoring at least 20% of the EU’s land and sea by the end of 2030. The regulation followed the pathway shown by the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework agreed upon at the 2022 UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15).   This initiative is aimed at not only protecting and conserving nature but also actively restoring it. It is becoming more crucial to take immediate action to tackle nature's alarming decline.   Organisations will need to transition to a nature-positive existence, and we understand the journey is rarely simple.   Connect with us to explore ways to enable nature and business to thrive side by side. https://lnkd.in/e7tKdatG   #NatureRestoration #NRL #Biodiversity #NaturePositive #Sustainability #EU   Resources:  1) https://lnkd.in/eXRqEmS5 2) https://lnkd.in/eTmKfcnx 

We would like to warmly welcome Nicola Faulks, who joins us as the Strategic Director of Sustainable Infrastructure. Nic is an international biodiversity practitioner with a broad range of ecological expertise. She previously led a team of consultants on overseas projects involving International Financial Institutions at SLR Consulting. Her work spans various sectors, including mining, infrastructure, and renewable energy. Recently, Nic has undertaken projects in India, Pakistan, Georgia, Turkey, Guinea, and Peru. She collaborated with a diverse array of lenders, such as EIB, EBRD, ADB, and KfW, applying specific guidelines with a focus on Critical Habitat Assessments and the Mitigation Hierarchy. Nic says, "Joining TBC marks an exciting new chapter in my career. I've closely followed TBC's work, reading their publications and collaborating on similar projects. I am looking forward to working with all the teams on a range of interesting and challenging projects." We're pleased to have you on board! #CompanyUpdate #SustainableInfrastructure #NaturePositive

The Biodiversity Consultancy Ltd appoints Tim Curtis as new CEO. We are delighted to welcome Tim Curtis to the team! Tim joins us at a pivotal time as TBC advances its journey of growth and innovation, serving as a catalyst for nature positive business. Tim brings commercial experience of delivering change and impact at scale in the energy and environmental sector. With seven years as Managing Director at global environment and engineering firm Ricardo, Tim’s expertise in the climate and sustainability field makes for a perfect complement to our deep expertise in biodiversity. We are excited about what we can create together. Tim says, “Supporting businesses on their journey to a nature positive future is an essential challenge of our age. I’m deeply proud and energised to be joining the amazing team at The Biodiversity Consultancy, as we step up to that challenge.” Dr Jonathan Ekstrom, The Biodiversity Consultancy’s Founder adds, “Tim Curtis’s commercial spirit, passion for our mission and strong sense of purpose made him the ideal choice to lead us through the next phase of our journey. The Biodiversity Consultancy has a wealth of experience and a 15-year track record, but in many respects, it feels like we’re just getting started. Watch this space!” Read more about Tim Curtis’s appointment here: https://lnkd.in/dVkiq3RZ #ExecutiveAnnouncement #NewCEO #NaturePositive