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.”
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:
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.
The
Partnership for Biodiversity Accounting Financials (PBAF) was formed in 2019 by
ASN Bank (part of de Volksbank), ACTIAM, FMO, Robeco, Triodos Bank and Triple
Jump. Today, the partnership consists of 25 members and total participant
assets under management are $ 6.2 Trillion. Their main objective is to develop
a global, harmonized standard for biodiversity impact assessment and
disclosure. This allows financial institutions to calculate the biodiversity
footprint of their investments and take action to restore and protect
biodiversity.
