United for greater biodiversity: UBi-dialogue forum in Berlin
On Wednesday, representatives from the economy, politics, science and research gathered at the UBi- dialogue forum in Berlin to discuss the current developments and challenges of biodiversity in companies. The dialogue forum was marked by a vibrant exchange, exploring the strategic integration of biodiversity from multiple perspectives. At its core, the event focused on developing collaborative solutions and strengthening regional and cross-sectoral partnerships to enhance biodiversity protection. Dr. Ulrike Eberle, a biodiversity expert from corsus, welcomed the opportunity for this enriching discussion.
The UBi Dialogue Forum began with a keynote speech by Oliver Conz, Head of the “Nature Conservation, Sustainable Use of Nature, Natural Climate Protection” Division at the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV). This was followed by a musical introduction featuring “Winter” from Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, performed by the Vox Quartet.
A concise impulse session „What the World Biodiversity Council has to say to the business community: What does the IPBES Business and Biodiversity Assessment mean for companies?” emphasized the importance of integrating biodiversity in a corporate strategy to ensure future-proofing and resilience. This was followed by an interactive fishbowl discussion with high-level representatives from business, politics, and science, offering insights into the strategic implementation of biodiversity – and the potential benefits it unlocks. The consensus was clear: strategically embedding biodiversity is the cornerstone of economic stability, resilience, and long-term viability. In the afternoon, three themed forums explored practical examples and tools for integrating biodiversity into business models. Beyond Greenwashing: Forum 1 focused on conveying credible communication tools, including references to EU Directive 2024/825 (“Empowering Consumers”). This directive strengthens consumer rights against greenwashing and puts an end to vague environmental claims without evidence.
In Forum 3, Eva Baumgärtner from DIHK Service GmbH presented the regional biodiversity alliances, while Peter Zens from Erlebnisbauernhof Gertrudenhof showcased the activities that have taken place since the establishment of the Cologne Alliance one year ago.
Moderated by Dr. Valerie Köcke from BiGC, the subsequent small-group discussions explored potential future topics for the alliances, how to communicate activities effectively, and how to engage policymakers to prioritize biodiversity protection on the political agenda. Ulrike Eberle shared insights from the biodiversity coaching sessions within the regional biodiversity alliances, which corsus has been supporting since the beginning of this year.
The dialogue forum demonstrated that biodiversity must become a central pillar of sustainable and future-proof corporate governance. The event underscored that clear standards, transparent communication, and collaborative approaches are essential not only to effectively protect biodiversity but also to unlock genuine economic leverage.
corsus advises on how to integrate biodiversity into business strategies, how to measure biodiversity impacts at the product or entire product portfolio level, and how to effectively implement biodiversity into supply chain management.
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