Working Groups
Members of the Foundation can become active in one or more working groups. We are currently hosting four working groups:
- Engagement with Companies
- Impact Assessment (incl. biodiversity measurement and data)
- Public Policy Advocacy
- Target Setting
Each working group is connected to one of the five commitments of the Finance for Biodiversity Pledge and convenes between 15-20 financial institutions. In 2023, we are also planning to launch an additional working group on positive impact.
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. 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.
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, 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 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.
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 summer 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. By the end of 2023, the working group is planning to establish 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)