Working Groups
Members of the Foundation can become active in one, more, or all working groups and subgroups.
Each working group is connected to one of the five commitments of the Finance for Biodiversity Pledge and convenes between 20-50 member financial institutions. In the working groups members can learn more about biodiversity from experts and share knowledge and best practices between peers.
Under the working groups, there are between 5-10 subgroups (per working group 1-3 subgroups) that create collaborative actions between financial institutions, like producing publications, organising events or webinars, or developing engagements with companies, programs, or sector-wide frameworks on measurement or target setting.
We are currently hosting the following working groups:
- Engagement with Companies
- Impact Assessment (incl. biodiversity measurement and data)
- Public Policy Advocacy
- Target Setting
- Positive Impact (to be launched in September 2023)
Engagement with Companies working group
This working group is connected to the second Pledge commitment: engagement with companies. In this working group, members are sharing experiences and new developments and exploring biodiversity-related ESG engagement with companies.
We are seeking to not duplicate work already done by other engagement initiatives, but rather to build on them and identify collective biodiversity engagement opportunities. To this end, we have made an inventory of ongoing collective engagement initiatives. Members use this information to set up new collective engagement initiatives and invite others to join their specific engagements with companies on biodiversity. In 2023, the working group will update its guide on engagement with companies regarding biodiversity, including a translation of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) goals and targets into engagement questions. A subgroup is also creating sector specific guidance to engagement with companies.
Co-chairs: Sonya Likhtman (Federated Hermes Limited) and Arthur van Mansvelt (Achmea IM)
Publications: For guidance on biodiversity engagement, please see our Guide on engagement with companies.
Impact Assessment working group
This working group is connected to the third Pledge commitment: assessing impact. Working group members share case studies, developments on data and tools and best practices and lessons learned regarding different biodiversity measurement approaches. A subgroup has mapped the existing data (providers), methodologies, scientific approaches and regulatory requirements to analyse what data is missing and needed to be able to cover all biodiversity topics. In 2023, subgroups will update two guidance documents, one on biodiversity measurements and the other on how to integrate biodiversity into financial decision making.
Co-Chair: Liudmila Strakondonskaya (AXA IM) and Steve Freedman (Pictet Asset Management)
Publications: For more information on the two guidance documents, please see our Guide on biodiversity measurement approaches the Guide on biodiversity integration by financial institutions.
Public Policy Advocacy working group
The Public Policy Advocacy working group is seeking to shape an ambitious and effective outcome of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) COP16 in 2024. The FfB Foundation is an official observer member of the CBD, which means that the working group can intervene during the meetings of the convention and suggest amendments to its protocols.
In 2023, the working group will follow the developments within global and regional biodiversity public policies and regulation, and will also advocate for effective regulation and policies to support the ambitious implementation of the GBF. The working group contributed to the Global Biodiversity Framework negotiations at COP15 last year. Please find an overview of all our COP15 activities on this page.
Co-chairs: Sonya Likhtman (Federated Hermes Limited) and Emine Isciel (Storebrand Asset Management)
Publications: For more information on the CBD process, please see our Financial Sector Guide for the Convention on Biological Diversity. For more information on the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework, please see Stepping up on Biodiversity – what the Kunming-Montreal agreement means for responsible investors.
Target Setting working group
This working group is connected to the fourth Pledge commitment: setting targets. In this working group, members are sharing experiences, new developments and exploring science-driven global goals, targets, and frameworks.
Having started in the summer of 2022, this is the newest working group. We partner with UNEP FI to align approaches and also with the Science Based Targets Network, participating in their finance working group.
In 2023, the working group is planning to establish a target-setting guidance publication and in 2024, a target-setting framework for financial institutions. The framework can be used by members of the foundation to report on their commitments in 2025, based on 2024 data.
Co-chairs: Lucian Peppelenbos (Robeco) and Charlotte Apps (Fidelity International)
Positive impact working group
The FfB Foundation plans to launch a new working group on the topic of ‘Positive impact’. The first meeting of the new working group will take place in September. In this meeting, we will discuss topics such as the goal of the working group and identify solutions that can mobilise financial resources towards the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of nature.