The parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) support the establishment of further business and biodiversity initiatives around the globe. The 'Biodiversity in Good Company' Initiative presented itself as one successful example at the first "Meeting of the Global Platform for Business and Biodiversity" on 15/16 December 2011 in Tokyo.

Germany was a pioneer when the Federal Environment Ministry founded the 'Biodiversity in Good Company' Initiative in 2008 - one of the first business platforms specifically dedicated to biodiversity. By the first "Meeting of the Global Platform for Business and Biodiversity", the creation of national business & biodiversity initiatives gained new momentum. The  conference, which was attended by about 200 representatives of existing and planned initiatives, among them 'Biodiversity in Good Company', as well as policy makers, had been organized by the secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) together with Japan’s most important business association, Keidenren, the Japanese Ministry for the Environment, and IUCN.

At the last CBD conference COP 10 in 2010 in Nagoya, Japan, the 193 parties to the convention agreed upon many new goals for 2020, and they ambitiously examined the role of the business community in protecting biodiversity (see COP 10 decision X/21). To mobilize business endeavours in this field, a number of instruments and recommendations were made to countries and business leaders worldwide. Among the many goals, one that stands out is the call to establish initiatives around the world.

The CBD secretariat’s task is to support the creation of these national initiatives through dialogue and networking. In the run-up to COP 11 in India this year, the Toyko conference was an important milestone. The 'Biodiversity in Good Company' Initiative, since 2011 independently run by its member companies, is closely involved in the CBD efforts for a global business partnership.

Contact: 'Biodiversity in Good Company' Initiative e. V., Carolin Boßmeyer, Managing Director, E-Mail carolin.bossmeyer(at)business-and-biodiversity.de