Business and Biodiversity Initiative

As today is the first day of COP15, we've prepared an overview of of the topic Biodiversity and Climate Change.

The links between climate change and biodiversity are a hot topic, with Reducing Emissions for Deforestation and Degredation (REDD) being a prominant talking point. The guardian features a good overview of the important points if you are still unsure of the details.  And if you are lucky enough to be in Copenhagen, there is a side event on the 8th of December reviewing the results of REDD project monitoring in 9 countries (details here).  According to the TEEB report  tropical and subtropical forests store about 25% of terrestrial carbon, in addition to provding other important ecosystem services, such as food, fibre, wood, water and soil nutrients.  CO2 reductions through REED are also alot cheaper than other potential reduction sources, such as changing to renewable energy.

There are also a number of other side events covering the effects of climate change on biodiversity, including one on Friday the 11th by the CBD Secretariat.  Climate change has the potential to devestate some ecosystems, particularly polar and high altitude ecosystems.  Coral reefs, even at current atmospherica levels of CO2 are under threat.  As a breeding ground for fish and shoreline protection, Coral reefs provide ecosystem services with an annual value of approximately US$115,000/hectare according to TEEB.

Climate change and agriculture will also be covered by a side event from  Bioversity International in collaboration the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF).  The event is on tuesday, and will discuess the importance of international sharing and exchange of biodiversity information, in particular for improved decision-making in climate change adaptation efforts and managing the impacts on agriculture and food security.

The full list of Biodiversity events is here.

Related Articles:

• Letters: Cap and trade will reduce emissions (guardian.co.uk)
• Science Weekly podcast | Copenhagen: What will success look like at the UN climate change summit? (guardian.co.uk)
• Key global climate talks set to begin (cnn.com)