PRB Biodiversity Community
From theory to practice

Welcome to the PRB Biodiversity Community online space. Here, you will access the community work program and all the content developed through the monthly learning sessions, e.g., two-pagers, meeting deck, session recordings, reading materials, etc.

Session #3 – Nature-related Financial Risks and the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) (19 July 2022)

This session aims to provide you with background information on how nature impacts and dependency can impact financial performance and the longer-term financial risks that may arise from your banks’ interactions with nature and assess nature-related risks in your portfolio. We will introduce you to emerging initiatives and methodologies to develop an approach to nature risks.

Speakers

  • Pavan Sukhdev, Former President of WWF international  &  The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) Study Leader
  • Annabel Ross, Banking Environment Initiative Lead at Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL)
  • Nathalie Borgeaud, Financial Markets Engagement Lead at TNFD 
  • Judson Berkley, Group Head Engagement and Regulatory Strategy at UBS & TNFD member
  • Cristiano Oliveira, Sustainability Executive Manager at Suzano & TNFD Member
  • Nehru Pillay, General Manager: Research and Intelligence, Land Bank of South Africa
  • Vivek Menon, Executive Director at Wildlife Trust of India
  • Romie Goedicke, Nature Technical Manager at UNEP FI

Please see below the session recording & material: 

Download session deck | Download session pack

Session #2 – The Business Case for Nature (15 June 2022)

This second session explores the importance and value of biodiversity to banks. It provides insights as to why banks should integrate biodiversity into their strategy and how it can help you generate benefits.

Speakers

  • Dr. Sebastian Troëng, Executive Vice President, Conservation Partnerships, Conservation International
  • Alexander Wiese, Senior Technical Advisor, UNEP FI 
  • Marisa Drew, Incoming Chief Sustainability Officer, Standard Chartered
  • Slav Gatchev, Managing Director, Sustainable Debt, NatureVest, The Nature Conservancy

Please see below the session recording & material: 

Download session deck | Download session pack

Session #1 – Biodiversity 101: Why is it important for responsible banks? (27/02/22)

Welcome to the inaugural session of the PRB Biodiversity Community. It aims to provide you with key information on biodiversity loss and why this is a critical challenge for your bank to address.

Speakers

  • Laurence Pessez, Global Head of CSR, BNP Paribas
  • Sir Bob Watson, Former Chairman of the IPCC & IPBES
  • Oliver Withers, Biodiversity Lead, Global Sustainability, Credit Suisse 
  • Andrew Mitchell, Founder, Global Canopy
  • Jessica Smith, Nature Lead, UNEP FI 

Please see below the session recording & material: 

Download Sir Bob Watson’s presentation | Download slide deck | Download pre-briefing pack

What is the PRB Biodiversity Community?

Designed as a capacity-building program for PRB banks starting their biodiversity journey, the Community is a response to signatory banks’ strong interest in learning how to support biodiversity protection and restoration in preparation for the release of the Global Biodiversity Framework later this year.

With nature and biodiversity loss being one of today’s most critical challenges, the global banking community must take decisive and immediate actions to lead at the cutting-edge of responsible banking. The PRB Biodiversity Community equips you with the necessary knowledge to integrate biodiversity considerations into business activities and strategies, in order to accelerate work towards setting targets to support biodiversity protection and restoration. It aims to help create an understanding of the importance of biodiversity, and the related loss in ecosystem services and how this is a risk to business and an increasing systemic risk for financial institutions, and how to create an environment that supports better managing these risks, and at the same time seizing opportunities.

This unique journey will take participants through a structured series of learning sessions on essential topics related to biodiversity & banking, including the business case for nature, portfolio impact and dependencies, as well as product innovations. Participants will have access to cutting-edge knowledge through specific resources and case studies, and learn from leading experts within UNEP FI, external biodiversity experts, and more advanced peers.

The Community will partner with a wide range of stakeholders and leading experts to deliver the program content, incl. the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), the Finance for Biodiversity Pledge, UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC), and relevant members from the PRB Civil Society Advisory Body 

Time commitment is expected to be approx. 1h30 to attend the monthly sessions + 1h30-2h of reading time.

Join the Community!

We highly encourage PRB banks to join the Community. To do so, please write to Oualid Rokneddine.