2011-09-Brussels
EU Biodiversity Benchmarking Workshop for the Non-Energy Extractive Industries Sector
20 September 2011
Offices of the Polish Presidency of the EU
Brussels, Belgium
In support of moving on the implementation of the new EU biodiversity strategy to 2020, a morning workshop was held on the 20th of September to consult with various economic sectors, including the Non-Energy Extractive Industries (NEII) Sector, about their views on the new strategy, how they might contribute to it, and how the EU Business and Biodiversity Platform might assist in this regard.
In the afternoon, the NEEI sector held a second workshop on biodiversity benchmarking. In this workshop the sector considered the challenge of benchmarking the biodiversity performance of the sector particularly at the site level. They reviewed benchmarking criteria proposed by the European Commission and considered this creteria in light of two possibility cases for benchmarking. These were the IFC’s Performance Standard 6 on Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources which will become operational in January 2012 and the Green Development Land Management Certification Scheme which is currently under development. Overall, the participants were keen that benchmarking is focused at the site level and that the NEEI Sector is able to demonstrate its net positive impact on biodiversity.
Background paper for the workshop
NEEI benchmarking discussion paper
EU biodiversity strategy to 2020
