The Business Case for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

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Event Details

More than half of the global economy depends on the prosperity of the natural world.

From the water we drink, to the food we grow, and the resources we use in manufacturing, biodiversity and ecosystem services support our daily lives and many of our products and services. We would be in great danger without the nurture of Mother Nature.

Ecosystems constitute the abundance of natural capital that is needed to sustain communities and businesses. These ecosystem services encompass the provision of freshwater, food, fuel, and timber; protection from landslides and storm surges; taking in greenhouse gases and pollutants; as well as supporting culture and recreation.

Understanding the matter and impact of biodiversity and ecosystem decline is crucial to curtailing further damage. It also helps to make informed decisions that prioritise a more sustainable future.The fundamental step in preserving ecosystem services is the economic valuation of the services as well as the adoption of standardized frameworks for businesses to better identify, measure and value their impacts and dependencies on nature. Failure to ascribe the right value to natural capital would misguide the policy and society would be worse off as a result of the misallocation of resources.

How could business benefit from integrating impacts to nature into their risk assessment and disclose nature-related financial risks to build a more resilient business?

This webinar will shed some light on this and other related questions.

During the webinar, speakers/panelists will share their perspective on what ecological crisis means for business and how firms can transform their operations and strategies to act as catalysts for positive change.

Agenda

December 10, 2020

Prospects of Biodiversity Business in Malaysia

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The worldwide interest in biodiversity received a big boost with the signing of the UN CBD in Rio De Janeiro in 1992. The treaty gains almost universal membership and its 3 objectives enjoy worldwide support, conservation of biodiversity, sustainable use of its components, access and benefit-sharing of genetic resources arising from R&D. Malaysia belongs in the league of megadiverse countries, where the richness of these resources to human civilization i.e. As a source of food, feed, clean water, fresh air, and other useful Ecosystem services. Biodiversity has also been a source of today's modern medicines such as a cure for the likes of cancer, diabetes, and heart diseases to name but a few. The number of species is estimated to be 10 million but the figure known to science is less than 2 million species. Biodiversity loss has become a global challenge due to adverse human activities such as land clearance for agriculture, urbanization, and modern infrastructures such as the building of roads and railway lines. Besides this obvious commercial potential of these raw materials, biodiversity can be a source of prosperity to countries in the form of ecotourism among many others.

- Prof. Tan Sri Dr Zakri Abdul Hamid
  Ambassador and Science Advisor to the Campaign for Nature, Former UN Official and a Senior Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, Founding Chairman of BCSD Malaysia

Time to Value Nature: Integrating Nature into Business

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If the COVID-19 crisis has taught us anything, it is the interlinkage of economic, ecological and societal systems. Evidence is emerging of the linkage between pandemic diseases such as COVID-19 and the loss of natural ecosystems and biodiversity. Yet recent reports such as the IPBES Global Assessment suggest that up to a million species are threatened with extinction. Investing in nature has many benefits. We will not reach the Paris climate goals without nature-based solutions in the food, land and ocean systems, and conversely climate finance will be vital to safeguard nature and vital ecosystem services.

Next year presents a huge opportunity to build forward better for People, Nature and Climate, with CBD COP15 in China and UNFCCC COP26 in the UK. Through coalitions such as Business for Nature, business is supporting calls for ambitious targets and policies to reverse nature loss by 2030, so that we have an equitable, climate-neutral and nature positive future.

- Dr Peter White
  Ambassador for Biodiversity and CBD COP15 at WBCSD

Building A Resilient Global Economy with Natural Capital

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Forty-four trillion dollars – roughly over 50% of global GDP – is either highly or moderately dependent on nature and its services, according to the World Economic Forum's 2020 Global Risks Report. This report ranks biodiversity loss and ecosystem loss as one of the top five threats to humanity in the coming decade. Covid-19 has arguably had a magnifying effect among policymakers, focusing the debate on how governments, corporates and individuals can re-build a more resilient global economy with "natural capital" as a core variable. The good news is that it is not too late to reverse course, but we must take action now if we wish to maintain current levels of prosperity and extend the benefits to the developing world. As an asset manager for a changing world, we have a vital role in preserving biodiversity and have taken a few steps to address this crisis.

- Angelia Chin-Sharpe
  Chief Executive Officer at BNP Paribas Asset Management Malaysia

Integration of Biodiversity and Conservation in the Palm Sector – A practical approach

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There is no doubt on the impact of human activities on biodiversity and ecosystem services. The
question is how to reduce these impacts and instead work towards balancing
human activities with the ability of the planet to continue regenerating itself. We have to look at
ourselves as custodians of this planet and bring all stakeholders along especially businesses whose
presence undoubtedly impact the planet directly. Therefore, engaging businesses in sustainable
resource use and biodiversity conservation is of particular importance given the environmental
pressures that many businesses may have, as well as declining ecosystem services that can pose real
risks to continued profitability and, ultimately, the license to operate. IOI, as an agricultural-based
company, is very much aware of this challenging position, of being expected to drive socio-economic
development while at the same time reducing our environmental impacts. Furthermore, the risks, which
will be discussed further in this forum, whether physical, reputational, or regulatory, have motivated IOI
to adopt innovative internal biodiversity policies and to engage in a range of activities that conserve
biodiversity and improve ecosystem functioning.

- Dr Surina Ismail
  Group Head of Sustainability at IOI Corporation Berhad

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Opening remarks

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Introduction

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Prospects of Biodiversity Business in Malaysia

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Time to Value Nature: Integrating Nature into Business

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Precision Biodiversity and its Business Opportunities

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Building A Resilient Global Economy with Natural Capital

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Integration of Biodiversity and Conservation in the Palm Sector – A practical approach

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Panel discussion

Speakers

Roberto Benetello

Executive Director of BCSD Malaysia

Roberto’s genuine passion and commitment to sustainability and his eagerness to act as catalyst in helping business in the transition to a sustainable...

Dato' Ir Dr A. Bakar Jaafar

Chairman of Malaysian Green Technology & Climate Change Centre (MGTC), Vice President of Academy of Sciences Malaysia, Director of BCSD Malaysia

Prof Dato’ Ir Dr A. Bakar Jaafar, PEng, FIEM, FASc, a Malaysian, is a Professor at UTM Perdana Centre, Razak Faculty of Technology & Informatics. He i...

Prof. Tan Sri Dr Zakri Abdul Hamid

Ambassador and Science Advisor to the Campaign for Nature, Former UN Official and a Senior Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, Founding Chairman of BCSD Malaysia

Tan Sri Zakri bin Abdul Hamid has had a distinguished career in science as a researcher, educator, administrator, diplomat and also as the former scie...

Dr Peter White

Ambassador for Biodiversity and CBD COP15 at WBCSD

Peter White is a biologist and sustainability leader, who serves as WBCSD’s Ambassador for Biodiversity and CBD COP15.In this role he is working with ...

Dr Helen Nair

Chair of ASM-Special Interest Group in Biodiversity

Professor (Retd.) Dr. Helen Nair has had a rewarding career in academia, having served at the University of Malaya for more than 30 years including as...

Angelia Chin-Sharpe

Chief Executive Officer at BNP Paribas Asset Management Malaysia

Angelia Chin-Sharpe is a seasoned capital market professional with over 20 years of experience in banking, capital marketsand asset management. She is...

Dr Surina Ismail

Group Head of Sustainability at IOI Corporation Berhad

Dr Surina Ismail currently holds the position of Group Head of Sustainability, IOI Corporation Bhd. In this capacity, she is responsible for Corporate...

Roberto’s genuine passion and commitment to sustainability and his eagerness to act as catalyst in helping business in the transition to a sustainable world, have led him to take the role of Executive Director of the Business Council for Sustainable Development Malaysia, a Global Network Partner of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).

Roberto led the EU-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EUMCCI) for almost four years and during his tenure the Chamber became one of the most influential organisations and advocacy platforms in Malaysia.

Roberto held several senior general management positions in the private sector, working for fortune-500 companies and start-ups in countries such as Italy, UK, Spain.

Roberto holds an MBA from SDA Bocconi in Italy and an MA in Marketing from Lincoln University, UK. Roberto is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Malaya, Asia Europe Institute Malaysia working on a research project on business sustainability.

Opening remarks

Prof Dato’ Ir Dr A. Bakar Jaafar, PEng, FIEM, FASc, a Malaysian, is a Professor at UTM Perdana Centre, Razak Faculty of Technology & Informatics. He is also a research fellow of the UTM Ocean Thermal Energy Centre. On 4th October 2019, he was appointed as Chairman of the Board of Malaysian Green Technology & Climate Change Centre (MGTC).

He has served the Government of Malaysia in various capacity since 1973, and his career included stints as Factories and Machinery Inspector (1973-74), Staff Engineer of the US EPA Industrial Environmental Research Laboratory (1975-76), Principal Assistant Director (Water Quality), Environment Division, Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (1976-84), Economic Planning Unit in the Prime Minister’s Department (1984-85), DOE Director of Operations (1985-86), DOE Deputy Director-General (Planning) (1987-1989), and as the Director-General of the Department of Environment Malaysia (DOE) (1990-1995). After his optional retirement, he continued to serve the Government of Malaysia as the Elected- Member of UNCLOS Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (1997-2002) (2002- 2007) (207-2012), UN Headquarters, New York.

In the private sector, he is on the Board of Directors of public-listed and private companies, including Land & General Berhad, Enviro-LIFT Services Sdn Bhd, Novaviro Technology Sdn Bhd, AGV Environment Sdn Bhd, TUSB Sdn Bhd, and PAIP Berhad.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia, 1973, a Master’s Degree in Environmental Science from Miami University, Ohio, USA, 1976; and PhD in (Marine) Geography from the University of Hawaii, Manoa, 1984.

Introduction
Panel discussion

Tan Sri Zakri bin Abdul Hamid has had a distinguished career in science as a researcher, educator, administrator, diplomat and also as the former science adviser to the prime minister of Malaysia.

Awarded the federal honorific title “Tan Sri” by Malaysia’s head of state in 2014, he served until 2016 as the founding Chair at the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), as the Science Advisor to Malaysia’s Prime Minister, and was one of 26 members of the UN Secretary-General’s Scientific Advisory Board.

Among other positions in recent years, Zakri has co-chaired the Secretariat of Malaysia’s Global Science and Innovation Advisory Council (GSIAC) and chaired the National Professors Council, the Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation (BIOTECHCORP), the National Foresight Institute and the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT).

Earlier positions included Co-Chair of the Board at the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment from July 2000 to 2005, Director of the Institute of Advanced Studies (IAS) of the United Nations University (UNU) from 2001 to 2008, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the National University of Malaysia (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia) from 1992 to 2000.

Currently, Prof. Tan Sri Zakri is the Pro-Chancellor of both Multimedia University (MMU) and Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Malaysia. He currently Chairs Atri Advisory, a consultancy company providing advice to governments and the private sectors on sustainable development. In April 2020 Prof. Tan Sri Zakri was appointed ambassador and science adviser to the Global Campaign for Nature, a partnership between the Wyss Campaign for Nature and the National Geographic Society.

Prospects of Biodiversity Business in Malaysia
Panel discussion

Peter White is a biologist and sustainability leader, who serves as WBCSD’s Ambassador for Biodiversity and CBD COP15.

In this role he is working with WBCSD members and partners to bring business solutions to COP15 of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in China in 2021, and to other nature-related initiatives and events.

Prior to this, Peter served as WBCSD’s Chief Operating Officer from 2013 -2018, creating and leading WBCSD’s program on Food, Land & Water, and overseeing all other work programs.

Before joining WBCSD in 2013, he worked for Procter & Gamble for 22 years, developing and then leading the sustainability program.

From 2006-2013 he was P&G’s Director for Global Sustainability, creator and chair of the Sustainability Leadership Council and a key architect of the company’s long-term sustainability vision and 2020 goals. As P&G’s Liaison Delegate, Peter has been involved in the work of WBCSD since 1997.

Peter is also visiting Professor at the Newcastle University Institute for Sustainability. Prior to joining P&G, he taught and ran research programs at the Universities of Oxford, California (Berkeley) and Arizona, and taught in Nigeria with the UK development charity Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO). He holds a doctorate in Chemical Ecology from Oxford University, an MA in Zoology (Oxford) and an MSc in Hydrobiology (London).

Time to Value Nature: Integrating Nature into Business
Panel discussion

Professor (Retd.) Dr. Helen Nair has had a rewarding career in academia, having served at the University of Malaya for more than 30 years including as holder of the Professorial Chair in Plant Physiology. In 2001, she resigned from UM to join private education for 11 years during which time she was Senior Professor and Dean of two Science faculties. Her pioneering interest in postharvest physiology continues as Advisor to her former Postharvest Biotechnology laboratory at UM. A Fellow of the Academy of Sciences she now sits on ASM Council and also holds Emeritus Membership in the American Society of Plant Biologists and Life Membership in the Malaysian Society of Plant Physiology.

Precision Biodiversity and its Business Opportunities
Panel discussion

Angelia Chin-Sharpe is a seasoned capital market professional with over 20 years of experience in banking, capital markets
and asset management. She is currently the CEO and Country Head for Malaysia for BNP Paribas Asset Management. Angelia also sits on the board of BNP Paribas Asset Management offices in Malaysia and Taiwan. She is also the co-chair of the APAC CSR Committee in her organization.

Angelia also serves as Industry Board Member of the Securities Industry Dispute Resolution Centre (SIDREC), Treasurer of the Malaysian Association of Asset Managers (MAAM), a Member of the Joint Climate Change Committee (JCS) of the Securities Commission Malaysia and Bank Negara Malaysia and a member of the Reviewing Committee for the Continuing Professional Certification with the Securities Industry Development Corporation.

When not wearing her corporate hat, Angelia serves the community through The Lost Food Project where she is the President and Founding Committee member. She is also Industry Advisor with Thought for Food, SE Asia. Angelia holds a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Accounting from Curtin University of Technology, Western Australia. She has completed her Chartered Islamic Finance Professional exams with INCEIF and is registered as a Chartered Professional in Islamic Finance (CPIF) with the Chartered Institute of Islamic Finance Professionals.

Angelia was ranked 14th most influential women in Islamic banking and finance in the WOMANi2019 report. She was ranked 34th in 2018. She was also awarded Community Achievement Award 2017 by the Malaysia Australian Alumni Council for her social work at The Lost Food Project.

Building A Resilient Global Economy with Natural Capital
Panel discussion

Dr Surina Ismail currently holds the position of Group Head of Sustainability, IOI Corporation Bhd. In this capacity, she is responsible for Corporate Sustainability which includes aligning the strategy and sustainability policies together with their implementation for the whole IOI Group (Plantation & Manufacturing Divisions).

Prior to this, she was the Global Director for Intellectual Property (IP) Management at Emery Oleochemicals where her main responsibilities include IP Strategy, Valuation & Portfolio Management. At the same time, she was also a Business Development and Operations Director for Emery Advance Material, a subsidiary company of Emery which specializes in the dispersion of Nanocarbon in Materials where she holds several patents in this field.

She had also worked at KLK Oleo as R&D Director at KLK Oleomas, a major manufacturing company in the oleochemicals industry; UCB Asia Pacific, a leading multinational company in UV Coatings, as Technical Development Manager for Asia as well as at Sime Darby Technology Center, as Materials Testing & Analysis Manager cum Quality Manager.

She holds a BSc. (Hon) Chemistry from Indiana University, MSc. (Organic Polymer) from University of Massachusetts and PhD. (Bio-organic Polymer) from University Akron, USA with past experiences in the academia, working as a Research Fellow, Visiting Scientist & Assistant Professor in the USA.