These commitments should occur on two fronts:Remember the adage “think globally, act locally”? We recommend businesses first conduct biodiversity assessments across their full value chains to understand their impacts and dependencies on nature. They should then work to neutralize deleterious activities, nurture beneficial ones, and directly support the biodiversity-enhancing and climate fighting work of Indigenous peoples, NGOs, and community groups.
Ecosystems are interconnected — they must be, in order to thrive. The same is true of corporate efforts to protect our planet. By prioritizing biodiversity alongside aggressive decarbonization, Canadian businesses have a chance to be global leaders, while reducing their risks and protecting their bottom lines. We must do the right thing. Now.
Megan Leslie is president and CEO of World Wildlife Fund Canada. Jason Storah is chief executive of insurance company Aviva Canada.