Nature
Nature absorbs half of the world’s carbon emissions and is the foundation of our economies and lives.
Our Nature Strategy focuses on restoring and preserving biodiversity and freshwater ecosystems. We are bringing nature into cities to improve living standards and make urban areas more resilient.
"Holcim takes a measurable science-driven approach to nature from our biodiversity indicator system all the way to our freshwater ecosystems, while also bringing more nature into cities. Working with leading nature conservation organizations like IUCN, we aim to strengthen our impact for a nature-positive future."
We support an active role for businesses in enhancing nature. Partnerships with biodiversity experts are crucial to optimize our impact. We advocate collaboration that accelerates action.
Holcim was selected by the Science Based Targets Network (SBTN) to pilot the world's first science based targets for nature. We are among the first 17 companies – and the only one in our sector – in this pilot. This global initiative aims to set the world’s first standards for ambitious and measurable corporate action for nature.
In 2020, Holcim’s Chief Executive Officer Jan Jenisch signed the Call to Action of Business for Nature, which brings together influential organizations and forward-thinking businesses seeking to reverse nature loss. We aim to positively influence policymakers who are discussing international agreements on nature and climate change. Renata Pollini, Holcim’s Head of Nature, is part of the Business for Nature’s Strategic Advisory Group, supporting them to set directions and prioritize actions.
We entered a three-year partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to preserve nature and advance nature-positive development in the built environment. IUCN will validate our biodiversity baseline and identify ways to increase biodiversity levels at our quarries and advise on the protection of freshwater resources. IUCN will also support us in driving and promoting the inclusion of biodiversity into existing and future building standards.
We are a signatory of the CEO Water Mandate and the WASH pledge strengthening our water stewardship commitments. We also joined the 50L Home Coalition and the Water Resilience Coalition to scale up its impact in protecting the world’s freshwater resources.
We believe businesses have an active role to play in providing solutions for nature. Nevertheless, public policies are key to accelerate actions in this decade to reverse nature loss.
For biodiversity, we support the establishment of mandatory rehabilitation requirements in all countries. Those requirements should encourage ecosystem restoration including:
- High-diversity fauna and flora
- Restoration based on endemic species
- Continuity with neighboring natural landscapes and spaces
- Progressive rehabilitation, i.e., rehabilitation taking place simultaneously with extraction work.
Incentives can facilitate the protection of endangered species, particularly in biodiversity sensitive areas.
For a greater impact on freshwater reduction, government mandates and incentives are necessary to promote investment in technologies for rain harvesting, optimization of water use in processes, and affordable low-carbon energy desalination.
As we strive to lead on Nature, Holcim regularly collaborates with NGOs and other corporates on high-profile reports to share and transfer knowledge, and accelerate the shift to a regenerative, nature-positive built environment.
- Climate Champions' Nature positive for Climate action
- WWF’s Implementing companies within planetary boundaries report
- ARUP’s and WBCSD’s Exploring Nature positive buildings
- Systemiq’s Unleashing a Regenerative Revolution white paper
- WEF’s Leader insights for nature positive cities
- WBCSD’s The Roadmap to Nature Positive: Foundations for the built environment system
- WBCSD’s Leveraging the roadmap to Nature Positive - Examples from the built environment industry
CONTRIBUTING TO UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
We work to have a positive impact on all 17 UN SDGs. Under our nature pillar we have identified four goals where we can make a significant difference:
How we are making it happen
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