Energy
Energy exists in different forms, such as electricity, heat, and solid, liquid, or gaseous fuels. The energy system (encompassing the oil and gas and utilities sectors) is defined as everything involved in the production, conversion, storage, delivery, and use of energy. Through its large-scale use of land and water and its high greenhouse gas emissions, the system has broad and significant impacts and dependencies on nature which present risks to business continuity and company value. It equally has great potential to drive nature-positive change within its value chain and beyond, because energy is used by almost all production activities of businesses and by domestic households.
The sector actions serve as a guide to transform business practices and value chains and ensure the energy system plays its part in halting and reversing nature loss by 2030 - the mission at the heart of the Global Biodiversity Framework.
The overview and report were led by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development with input from 21 WBCSD members.
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Impacts on nature
Energy companies should direct their efforts towards addressing the most significant impacts on nature in their operations and value chains, namely:
Water use
Air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions
Pollution
Land and sea use change
Dependencies on nature
The energy system is dependent on ecosystem services to function and grow. Companies rely heavily on:
Water resources
Climate regulation
Flood and storm protection, erosion control
