Nature-Friendly Consumption: Policies for Biodiversity Protection
About the Conference
Sustainable consumption is key to safeguarding our natural life support system. Today’s consumption and production patterns are major drivers of global resource use and environmental degradation, with agricultural production responsible for around 80% of deforestation, 70% of biodiversity loss on land and 50% in freshwater globally. In a highly interconnected world, these impacts are felt most acutely in biodiversity-rich regions of the Global South, where many of our everyday products originate. Despite increasing awareness, particularly in Europe, nature-friendly consumption is still far from the norm. Closing this gap requires targeted and effective policy measures.
At the conference, we will present key findings from the research project “Shaping nature-friendly consumption”, which investigates the biodiversity impacts of three case studies on soy, palm oil, and shrimp. These globally traded products are linked to significant impacts on nature – and serve as entry points for exploring concrete policy options for more sustainable consumption patterns.
As a participant, you will gain insights into:
- How the production of soy, palm oil, and shrimp affects global biodiversity
- Policy recommendations aimed at reducing these impacts and promoting nature-friendly consumption
- The role and potential of sufficiency-oriented policies in protecting biodiversity
- Strategic entry points for action within current political frameworks, such as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)
Programme
Download a PDF version of the programme here
| 13:00 | Welcome & Introduction Dr. Julia Fülling & Jonas Pentzien |
| 13:10 | Welcome Words Simone Wulf – Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) |
| 13:15 | Keynote: Consumption & Biodiversity – Why act now? Laetitia Montero – UN Environment Programme (UNEP) |
| 13:25 | Project Presentation: Biodiversity impacts of shrimp, soy and palm oil and overarching recommendations Dr. Julia Fülling & Jonas Pentzien Susanne Köppen – Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (ifeu) |
| 13:50 | Q&A with the Audience |
| 14:10 | Panel Discussion Linus Knetsch – German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) Laetitia Montero – UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Michael Mulet Solon – World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF) |
| 14:40 | Wrap-up & Outlook Anakarina Pérez Oropeza – Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) |
| 15:00 | End of the event |
Registration
The registration for this event is now closed.
Documentation
- List of links shared during the event
- Main presentation “Nature-Friendly Consumption: Policies for Biodiversity Protection”
- Keynote “Nature-Friendly Consumption: Policies for Biodiversity Protection” by Laetitia Montero – UN Environment Programme (UNEP)
- Presentation on the "Consumer Information Programme
WG4, Biodiversity and Consumption" by Anakarina Pérez Oropeza – Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
