Biodiversity 101: Training of Trainers

TRAINING OF TRAINERS

BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEMS 101: FOSTERING RESILIENT BUSINESS PRACTICES FOR SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DUE DILIGENCE IN ASIA

11:00– 12:30 ICT | 19 March 2025

SESSION PARTNER

ABOUT

BACKGROUND

Biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation are not just environmental issues – they are business risks with significant financial and social implications. Up to 42% of species in Southeast Asia are at risk of extinction by the end of the century, posing a direct threat to supply chains, operations, and long-term business resilience.[i]Escalating biodiversity loss in the Asia-Pacific region could impact as much as 63% – or $19 trillion – of the region’s GDP, particularly in resource-dependent countries.[ii]

Environmental degradation introduces direct risks to businesses, affecting both their operations and the communities on which they rely. Industries such as agriculture, fisheries, and forestry increasingly face threats including supply chain disruptions, rising costs, and instability.[iii] At the same time, growing regulations are driving businesses to enhance compliance on both national and international levels. In fact, 73% of consumers report that they would change their consumption habits to reduce their environmental impact, emphasizing the business case for adopting nature-positive strategies.[iv] Businesses that implement nature-positive strategies can enhance their competitive advantage, mitigate regulatory and operational risks, and respond to growing stakeholder demands for sustainability. Despite this, only 28% of Asia-Pacific's top firms prioritize biodiversity, with fewer than 15% disclosing nature-related risks and opportunities.[v]

In Asia, frameworks like Japan's Financial Services Agency’s guidelines on biodiversity disclosures and China's environmental regulations not only mandate compliance but also present opportunities for businesses to gain a competitive edge.[vi] At the international level, frameworks like the European Union's Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and the European Union's Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) are poised to impact Asian exporters, compelling them to meet global sustainability standards. This push for greater transparency and accountability motivates businesses to adopt responsible practices to maintain market access.[vii]

As part of the Corporate Sustainability and Environmental Rights in Asia (CSERA) conference, UNDP, in partnership with ERM and the UN Global Compact Network, will host a Training of Trainers (ToT) to equip corporate sustainability professionals with essential tools for integrating biodiversity considerations into business operations, human rights due diligence (HRDD), and environmental risk management frameworks. Participants will learn how to align corporate strategies with global best practices, reduce exposure to nature-related risks, and drive sustainable, nature-positive business practices that enhance long-term performance.

LEARN:

Gain the foundational knowledge necessary to integrate biodiversity into business operations and sustainability frameworks:

Understand Key Global Frameworks: Explore the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), the "30x30" conservation target, and the Task Force on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), with a focus on incorporating biodiversity and environmental risks into human rights due diligence (HRDD) processes.
Integrate HRDD with Nature Risk Management: Learn to apply HRDD principles to assess and address biodiversity and environmental impacts within operations and supply chains.
Strengthen Governance and Compliance: Discover how to embed biodiversity into corporate governance structures and ensure compliance with emerging regulations such as Japan's and China's environmental laws and the EU's Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).

ENGAGE:

Through dynamic, real-world exercises and peer discussions, you'll learn how to apply sustainability concepts to your business context:

Seize Business Opportunities: Understand how nature-positive strategies can enhance business resilience, unlock new market opportunities, and mitigate operational risks.
Develop Practical Solutions: Build the skills necessary to train other corporate leaders and sustainability teams within your organization, creating a network of change-makers to drive sustainable business practices.
Collaborate on Key Challenges: Participate in group discussions to develop actionable strategies that address real-world challenges, such as aligning with regulatory trends and leveraging nature-positive business models.

CONNECT:

Network and collaborate with like-minded professionals to foster collective action in driving corporate sustainability:

Align with Stakeholder Expectations: Learn how to align corporate strategies with stakeholder demands for transparency, sustainability, and responsible environmental management.
Build Collaborative Networks: Connect with other sustainability professionals, sharing knowledge and experiences to support industry-wide change and promote best practices in biodiversity conservation.
Ensure Long-Term Business Resilience: Discover how to strengthen your company's capacity to navigate regulatory changes, manage nature-related risks, and align with stakeholder expectations for responsible environmental practices.

RESOURCES

[i] https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/inaction-emissions-could-cut-developing-asias-gdp-by-17-by-2070-adb-says-2024-10-31/

[ii] https://www.adb.org/news/features/nature-positive-investment-cuts-through-global-crises

[iii] https://www.bcg.com/publications/2021/biodiversity-loss-business-implications-responses?utm_source=chatgpt.com

[iv] https://www.nielsen.com/insights/2018/what-sustainability-means-today/

[v] https://www.adb.org/news/features/nature-positive-investment-cuts-through-global-crises

[vi] https://www.globalreporting.org/media/oujbt3ed/climate-reporting-in-asean-state-of-corporate-practices-2022.pdf

[vii] https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3280737/asian-companies-face-reputation-risk-tougher-eu-sustainability-rules-kick

EXPERT TRAINERS

ELEANORE YIP

Managing Consultant, ERM

Eleanore is a Managing Consultant with 4 years extensive expertise in Corporate Sustainability and Climate Change (CSCC) services based in Bangkok, Thailand. She has experiences on ESG report preparation nature assessment and reporting aligned with the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), biodiversity framework guidance, nature policy monitoring, SBTI, ESG ratings, benchmarking etc. across different industries, such as agriculture, chemical, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, mining, automobile, retail etc.

NATCHAPOL NAMNANTHASITH

Consulting Associate, ERM

Natchapol is a Consulting Associate in the Corporate Sustainability and Climate Change team based in Bangkok, Thailand. He holds a dual degree in Political Science and Social Science. Prior joining ERM, he interned with Thailand’s leading food and beverage company as part of the sustainability team, where he developed knowledge in sustainability reporting and relevant frameworks such as GRI and S&P CSA.
His experiences include climate-related projects, Scope 3 emissions data collection, baseline emissions calculation and decarbonization pathway development. Additionally, he has experience in biodiversity disclosure, particularly in assessing nature-related impacts and dependencies using TNFD’s LEAP approach.

NUCHWARA YOUNGCHAROEN

Managing Consultant, ERM

Nuchwara is a Managing Consultant at ERM with 4 year of extensive expertise in Corporate Sustainability and Climate Change (CSCC) services. She has experiences in consulting and managing corporate sustainability projects include ESG strategy, Life Cycle Analysis for Environmental Product Declaration, Supply Chain Management, Materiality Assessment, ESG Training and Sustainability Reporting in accordance with relevant frameworks and ranking including GRI, S&P Global, CDP Water and CDP Climate across different industries such as agricultural, chemical, construction, renewable energy, and mining.

MRINALINI RAI

Founder/Executive Director, Women4 Biodiversity

Mrinalini Rai is a passionate advocate for gender equality, human rights, and biodiversity conservation, dedicated to ensuring that environmental policies are inclusive and just. As the Director of Women4Biodiversity, she has been instrumental in integrating gender-responsive and human rights-based approaches into global biodiversity governance. With a deep commitment to amplifying the voices of women, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities, she works to bridge the gap between international policy frameworks and grassroots realities.

Her efforts have been instrumental in shaping key policies, particularly advancing gender-responsive commitments within the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). Beyond policy advocacy, she focuses on capacity-building, fostering coalitions, and enhancing collaboration among biodiversity-related Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs). She remains committed to driving transformative change, ensuring that biodiversity conservation efforts prioritize equity, rights, justice, and sustainability.