For years, climate change has dominated the sustainability agenda — and rightly so. But a quieter, even more urgent crisis has been unfolding in parallel: the accelerating loss of biodiversity. Forests are vanishing, insect populations collapsing, and oceans losing their balance — with consequences not just for ecosystems, but for economies, supply chains, and global stability.
Olivier Schär is an independent biodiversity consultant and founder of BioPerf.biz. With over two decades of experience working across science, policy, and the private sector, he is one of Earth Action’s expert collaborators, helping companies understand and respond to biodiversity-related risks.
‘Biodiversity isn’t a niche issue. It cuts across everything — land, food, infrastructure, finance. If a company has operations on this planet, then biodiversity is already a part of its risk profile.‘
The Blind Spot in ESG Strategy
Today, companies are more equipped than ever to measure their carbon emissions — but few understand their biodiversity footprint. That blind spot, says Olivier, is a critical vulnerability.
Unlike carbon, biodiversity is complex: it doesn’t come with a single metric, and its degradation is driven by many pressures — deforestation, water pollution, , land use change, soil depletion. Yet the impacts are material: from volatile commodity prices and resource scarcity to disrupted supply chains and growing regulatory pressure.
‘The risk isn’t abstract anymore. It’s already showing up in procurement teams, investor expectations, and customer trust.‘
The 2022 Global Biodiversity Framework and the emergence of disclosure frameworks like the TNFD are rapidly pushing biodiversity up the corporate agenda. Tools such as ENCORE are helping companies understand their dependencies and impacts on nature and begin translating nature into numbers — and risk into strategy.
From Measurement to Meaningful Action
Olivier has been involved in the development of biodiversity footprinting — a methodology that helps organizations understand their direct and indirect impacts on nature. Much like a carbon footprint, it allows companies to see where their activities rely on biodiversity and where they cause harm. Because of the quantification it allows, companies can set targets and track their progresses.
But Olivier cautions: footprints are only the beginning. What matters is what companies do with the insights.
‘Use metrics to guide decisions — not just to tick a box. A footprint should lead to action: to rethinking sourcing, redesigning products, restoring ecosystems.‘
He recommends businesses:
- Start with a pilot project to explore biodiversity dependencies and impacts
- Implement quickly ‘no regret’ actions
- Join platforms like act4nature or Business for Nature
- Build internal capacity, not just external commitments
The Innovators Will Be the Resilient Ones
While the risks of inaction are real, so are the opportunities. Companies that proactively engage with biodiversity often uncover untapped innovation, resilience, and long-term value. This is especially true for sectors with strong links to natural systems — such as food, energy, fashion, and construction.
Emerging technologies are also changing the game. Remote sensing, drone monitoring, and AI-driven biodiversity management platform are making biodiversity strategies faster and more scalable.
‘What used to take months can now be done in weeks — and soon, in real time. That lowers the barrier for companies to take ownership.‘
Meanwhile, regulation is catching up. As expectations evolve through instruments like TNFD and the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), biodiversity will shift from a voluntary topic to a compliance issue. Companies who act early will help shape the standards — and stay ahead of them.
Earth Action’s Role: From Awareness to Strategy
Olivier sees his collaboration with Earth Action as part of a wider shift — helping businesses move beyond awareness and into systemic, science-based action. Earth Action’s work combines policy insight, data fluency, and life cycle thinking, offering companies a partner for truly integrated sustainability.
Earth Action brings a unique strength: they don’t just do data — they do systems. That’s what biodiversity needs right now.
Redefining Success for a Nature Positive Future
A company’s relationship to nature is no longer just a matter of compliance — it’s a matter of strategic identity. What does it produce? Does it destroy? Does it restore?
‘A company contributing to a nature positive future isn’t about sacrifice. It’s about redefining success in a way that lasts.‘
As biodiversity moves from the margins to the center of ESG, companies that embrace this shift will not only future-proof their strategies — they will help shape an economy where nature and business thrive together.
Ready to integrate biodiversity into your business strategy?
Biodiversity builds naturally on Earth Action’s core capabilities — from life cycle thinking and footprinting to systems-based sustainability strategy. What’s new is that climate become a driver of action among others. To support our partners in navigating this evolving landscape, we collaborate closely with biodiversity expert Olivier Schär.
His deep experience helps us translate scientific insight into practical, nature-positive strategies that businesses can act on — and that align with frameworks like the TNFD.
Want to explore how your business can integrate biodiversity into its strategy?
Let’s talk: contact@e-a.earth | www.e-a.earth
