Biodiversity
Our planet’s biodiversity is at risk. Ecosystems that provide a stable climate, clean air and water, healthy soil and thriving flora and fauna, need to be protected and regenerated. ABN AMRO recognises that its activities have a negative impact on nature, which is why we are committed to working with our clients to address the main causes of biodiversity loss.
What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity refers to a diversity of life forms ranging from plants and animals to micro-organisms and fungi. It encompasses diversity within species (genetic diversity), between species (species diversity) and between ecosystems (ecosystem diversity). Biodiversity is essential for ecosystems and broadly determines their capacity to render services to humanity, such as providing oxygen, food and clean water, capturing carbon dioxide and preventing erosion.
What is wrong?
Biodiversity is threatened by human activity. The extinction rate of species is now higher than it has ever been in human history. A million species of plants and animals are estimated to be in danger of extinction (). Moreover, in the past five decades, populations of wild animals have declined by an average 69 per cent (), potentially foreboding more biodiversity loss.
In the Netherlands, too, the situation is alarming. Nearly 90 per cent of protected habitats, such as sand dunes, brooks and rivers with aquatic plants, blue moor grass fields, old oak woods and more, are in a state of decline (). This has consequences for the many species that live here. Our country’s production and consumption contribute to biodiversity loss. A joint study by ABN AMRO and the Impact Institute shows that the Dutch economy caused nearly 40 billion euros worth of damage to ecosystems in the Netherlands and beyond in 2020.
Main causes of biodiversity loss
The main causes of biodiversity loss are changes in the way land and sea are used (for example deforestation and urbanisation), direct exploitation (such as overfishing or extraction of groundwater), climate change, soil, water and air pollution, and invasive alien species.
ABN AMRO and biodiversity
Our bank’s biodiversity impact mostly arises from the activities of the clients that we finance. Therefore, we must help our clients address the causes of biodiversity loss, for example by reducing pollution, adopting circular business models and stopping deforestation in their supply chains.
At the same time, many companies depend on ecosystem services that nature provides, such as pollination, water purification and protection against disease. Over half of the global economy is moderately to heavily dependent on nature’s benefits (). Financial institutions that finance these activities are consequently exposed to risks ().
Nature Statement
Our Nature Statement describes our approach to biodiversity. This document also includes ABN AMRO’s declaration of support for the Kunming-Montreal , in which countries have agreed on ways to stop and reverse biodiversity loss.
