The state of our natural world has captured global investor attention thanks to research emphasizing the monetary value of ecosystem services and the alarming rates of species loss, especially within freshwater ecosystems. Biodiversity, an indicator of ecosystem health, has declined at unparalleled rates for decades because of human activity, with no sign of slowing down. Freshwater serves as a linchpin in many ecosystems - our rivers, lakes and streams teem with life when water quality and quantity are maintained, but this biodiversity can quickly degrade when too much, too little, or too dirty water flows through the ecosystem. Society as a whole relies on the quantity and quality of freshwater, so a loss in biodiversity in both terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems will impact business operations and livelihoods. While biodiversity loss exacerbates a number of risks for investors, this webinar will focus on the overlap between biodiversity loss and water-related risks.
In this session, participants will:
Explore how biodiversity loss and water-related risks are interconnected
Discuss biodiversity “hotspots” and why maintaining those areas are particularly important, especially when connected to water stress and freshwater ecosystem protection
Identify resources and opportunities to stay engaged on biodiversity and freshwater risk
Speakers:
Joel Johnson, E.O Wilson Biodiversity Foundation
Masaru Okubo, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Asset Management