New partnership: A Biodiversity Act is needed

The future belongs to 'nature positive' business models and an economy where companies invest in restoring nature and turn it into business value. Now, a new partnership is ready with a number of recommendations to ensure that nature has better conditions in the development of the cities of the future.

Behind the recommendations are Denmark's largest labor market pension fund PensionDanmark and the largest green organisation in Denmark, The Danish Society for Nature Conservation. The partnership presents a clear request for the Parliament to work for a Danish Biodiversity Act, which must ensure timely action, new solutions and broad anchoring.

"The loss of biodiversity is an unexplored risk for the world economy, and action is needed if we are to slow down and reverse the development. As one of Denmark's largest real estate developers, we will do our part, as we believe that properties with higher nature value also provide a higher return. But there is also a need for the politicians to step in and ensure a joint effort across municipalities, regions and state when it comes to urban development," says CEO of PensionDanmark, Torben Möger Pedersen.

The recommendations have been formulated by a joint, interdisciplinary work group, collecting input from experts to ensure the best available knowledge on how to conserve, protect and strengthen biodiversity. Builders and NGOs are recommended to map the impact of their entire value chain concerning biodiversity and facilitate local engagement. Politicians are encouraged to recognize the threat to nature and put it at the top of the agenda.

"There is a need for political recognition that biodiversity is a cornerstone of a sustainable society. Our nature is under pressure and this calls for broad solutions. Here, a legal anchoring in a Biodiversity Act - just as we have seen with the Climate Act - is the right starting point," says Maria Reumert Gjerding, president of The Danish Society for Nature Conservation

Facts: Recommendations for biodiversity in urban development

The Danish Parliament must work for a Danish Biodiversity Act with the following starting point:

• Recognize that biodiversity is a cornerstone of a sustainable society.
• Interrelated problems require integrated solutions.
• Consider conservation, protection and strengthening of biodiversity in all urban development.
• Ensure cooperation for biodiversity planning across municipalities, regions and state.<

Builders and NGOs must preserve, protect and strengthen biodiversity with the following set of rules:

• Put understanding of the local nature context at the forefront when buying land.
• Map the construction value chains and their overall impact.
• Turn the edges of the city into focal points for the unfolding of life and nature.
• Facilitate local engagement before, during and after construction.
• Communicate about the value of nature.
  
  

PensionDanmark’s annual report on biodiversity can be found here.