ERM, Salesforce, NatureMetrics, and Planet Form NatureTech Alliance to Address Biodiversity Loss
- ERM, Salesforce, NatureMetrics, and Planet combine forces to form a new initiative to help companies tackle urgent biodiversity challenges
- Alliance will focus on biodiversity measurement, management, and disclosure, supporting businesses to get ahead of their nature impact reporting commitments
- Collaboration aims to transform how businesses approach their impact and dependencies on nature
ERM, Salesforce, NatureMetrics, and Planet have announced the establishment of the NatureTech Alliance, a pioneering global initiative aimed at transforming how corporations measure and manage their biodiversity impact. The alliance, formed at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, seeks to accelerate and scale the assessment, management, and disclosure of biodiversity impacts and dependencies on nature to drive a sustainable future for nature, people, and economies.
The NatureTech Alliance will enable companies to develop a comprehensive understanding of the impact of their business on nature and prepare for reporting against new and impending nature regulations and frameworks such as the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures and Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive.
The alliance will address common challenges faced by businesses in managing biodiversity integrity across industries. It will provide an integrated toolkit for biodiversity management and disclosure, including:
- Value Chain Biodiversity Impact and Dependency Assessment
- Supplier Engagement on Biodiversity
- Multi-Site Program Management and Field Service
- Regulatory Reporting and Compliance
Each member of the alliance brings unique expertise to form a comprehensive biodiversity management and reporting offering for businesses seeking to effectively measure and track their approach to biodiversity.
ERM
ERM provides sustainability consulting and global delivery capabilities to help organizations integrate biodiversity into their business strategies and operations.
Salesforce
Salesforce offers powerful technology, including Net Zero Cloud, and ecosystem reach, supporting critical business technology processes for over 200,000 customers.
NatureMetrics
NatureMetrics brings its unique eDNA technology and scalable, on-the-ground biodiversity measurement prowess.
Planet
Planet provides access to daily satellite data and analytics from the world’s largest fleet of Earth observation satellites.
Matt Haddon, Global Lead for Nature & Water at ERM, stated, “ERM’s partner ecosystem is key to helping us accelerate progress on sustainability for our clients. We have built successful collaborations with Salesforce, Planet, and NatureMetrics, and we now have the opportunity to maximize our collective impact through the NatureTech Alliance. This comes at a critical time as large corporates are grappling with the next two waves of the triple threat of climate change, nature loss, and water scarcity as a matter of urgency. By combining our capabilities, we can help more organizations develop a comprehensive understanding of their nature-based risks and dependencies, enabling them to effectively integrate nature into their business strategies and operations at the pace and scale required.”
Tim Christophersen, VP, Climate Action at Salesforce, added, “Action on climate and nature must go hand in hand. To accelerate a successful transition to a net-zero and nature-positive future, businesses must measure, manage, and disclose their impact and reliance on nature. Salesforce launched its Nature-Positive Strategy and actively participated in the pilot phase of the Task Force on Nature-related Financial Disclosures. We’re proud to form the NatureTech Alliance and leverage Net Zero Cloud, Tableau, and our other technologies to help other companies make a positive impact.”
Dr. Kat Bruce, Founder of NatureMetrics, commented, “This is a milestone moment: a dream team collaborating to provide full-spectrum biodiversity measurement, management, and disclosure for global corporations. We’re excited to build on existing relationships to deliver something that’s more than the sum of its parts. Collaborations between those that bring different parts of the puzzle are going to be critical for accelerating the implementation of solutions at scale and translating promising talk into real action on the ground.”
Andrew Zolli, Chief Impact Officer of Planet, stated, “We are at a critical moment in history where we both need to start quantifying, monitoring, and valuing our biodiversity and actually have the technology and tools to do so – from satellite technology, artificial intelligence, and huge data infrastructures. What’s next is true collaboration where all of the tools and places of knowledge collaborate to make the change happen. We’re thrilled to be taking this next step in how we monitor and protect our world with such incredible organizations.”
About ERM
ERM is the world’s largest specialist sustainability consultancy, partnering with clients to operationalize sustainability at pace and scale. With a unique combination of strategic transformation and technical delivery capabilities, ERM helps clients accelerate the integration of sustainability into their business at every level. With over 50 years of experience, ERM’s diverse team of 8000+ experts in 40 countries and territories creates innovative solutions to sustainability challenges, unlocking commercial opportunities that meet present needs while preserving opportunities for future generations. Learn more here.
About NatureMetrics
NatureMetrics is a world leader in delivering nature data and intelligence. Using cutting-edge technology to generate biodiversity data at scale using environmental DNA, NatureMetrics recently launched the world’s first Nature Intelligence Platform powered by eDNA. This scalable solution equips businesses for the emerging nature and biodiversity regulatory landscape. NatureMetrics works with 500+ clients in over 100 countries across various industries, including energy, extractives, food and drink, and financial services. Visit www.naturemetrics.com for more information.
About Salesforce
Salesforce empowers companies of all sizes and industries to connect with their customers through the power of AI, data, and CRM. For more information about Salesforce, visit www.salesforce.com.
About Planet
Planet is a leading provider of global, daily satellite imagery and geospatial solutions. Founded by three NASA scientists in 2010, Planet designs, builds, and operates the largest Earth observation fleet of imaging satellites. Planet provides mission-critical data, advanced insights, and software solutions to over 1,000 customers worldwide, enabling them to derive unique value from satellite imagery. Visit www.planet.com for more information.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 15: Life on Land
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- SDG 13: Climate Action
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
The article discusses the formation of the NatureTech Alliance, which aims to transform how corporations measure and manage their biodiversity impact. This directly relates to SDG 15: Life on Land, which focuses on protecting, restoring, and promoting sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. The alliance also addresses SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, as it helps businesses understand and report their nature impact to meet new regulations and frameworks. Additionally, the article mentions the triple threat of climate change, nature loss, and water scarcity, connecting it to SDG 13: Climate Action. Lastly, the collaboration between ERM, Salesforce, NatureMetrics, and Planet demonstrates SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, as they come together to address biodiversity challenges.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services.
- Target 12.6: Encourage companies to adopt sustainable practices and integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle.
- Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
- Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships.
The NatureTech Alliance’s focus on biodiversity measurement, management, and disclosure aligns with Target 15.1 of SDG 15. By helping companies understand their impact on nature and develop strategies to mitigate it, the alliance contributes to the conservation and sustainable use of ecosystems. The initiative also supports Target 12.6 of SDG 12 by assisting businesses in reporting their nature impact and integrating sustainability information into their reporting cycle. Furthermore, the collaboration addresses Target 13.2 of SDG 13 by considering the triple threat of climate change, nature loss, and water scarcity in their approach. Lastly, the formation of the alliance demonstrates progress towards Target 17.17 of SDG 17 by fostering effective partnerships between different organizations.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Indicator 15.1.1: Coverage by protected areas of important sites for terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity.
- Indicator 12.6.1: Number of companies publishing sustainability reports.
- Indicator 13.2.1: Number of countries that have integrated mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning measures into their policies, strategies, and planning.
- Indicator 17.17.1: Amount of United States dollars committed to public-private and civil society partnerships.
While the article does not explicitly mention these indicators, they can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. For example, Indicator 15.1.1 can assess the coverage of protected areas that contribute to the conservation of terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity. Indicator 12.6.1 can track the number of companies publishing sustainability reports, indicating their integration of sustainable practices. Indicator 13.2.1 can measure the extent to which countries have integrated climate change measures into their policies and planning. Lastly, Indicator 17.17.1 can quantify the financial commitments made towards public-private and civil society partnerships.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table
SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
---|---|---|
SDG 15: Life on Land | Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services. | Indicator 15.1.1: Coverage by protected areas of important sites for terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity. |
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production | Target 12.6: Encourage companies to adopt sustainable practices and integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle. | Indicator 12.6.1: Number of companies publishing sustainability reports. |
SDG 13: Climate Action | Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning. | Indicator 13.2.1: Number of countries that have integrated mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning measures into their policies, strategies, and planning. |
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships. | Indicator 17.17.1: Amount of United States dollars committed to public-private and civil society partnerships. |
Source: erm.com