NAT.B04.EA Key Species Disclosure
About the data
This metric was designed by The World Benchmarking Alliance, more information can be found here. Sources and Alignments for each indicator can be found here as well as the scoring guidelines here
The World Benchmarking Alliance's Nature Benchmark measures and ranks the world's most influential companies on their efforts to protect our environment and its biodiversity.
This metric relates to the Indicator: The company discloses the species found within its own operations' locations as well as those within its business relationships' locations. The company also discloses the status of these species, in accordance with national and international conservation lists.
Rationale: Despite past multilateral policy efforts, like the Aichi Targets that expired in 2020, the rate of species extinction is approximately 1,000 times higher than ever before, and the total number of wild mammals is declining by 82% compared to historical records (WEF and PwC, 2020). As scientists have put bluntly, we are witnessing a ‘biological annihilation' amounting to the sixth mass extinction. In the past, the major threats to species have been well documented. However, establishing specific targets for threat reduction is complex because there are large numbers of threatened species as well as rapid deterioration of habitats. Along with efforts to preserve key areas for biodiversity, companies can contribute to the process of halting species abundance and richness loss and extinction.
Methodology
WBA analysed all publicly available group-level disclosure in English on the applicable group website, which was predominantly annual reports and sustainability reports. Draft assessments were then sent to each company inviting them to provide feedback. This feedback could include additional publicly available group disclosure published. These were then reviewed and finalised. Final assessments were then shared with each company before being published online.
For this metric the company discloses all species present in or adjacent (or in close proximity) to its own locations, regardless of whether these species are listed in any type of conservation list (national or international).