Biodiversity

Research shows that 75% of the land-based environment and 66% of the marine environment have been significantly altered by human actions.* The global population of wild animal species has fallen by 73% over the last 50 years and more than one million plant and animal species are currently at risk of extinction.** Biodiversity is impacted by our economic activities, but at the same time these activities are dependent on these very ecosystems for their functioning.

Our role

In our investment process, we focus on biodiversity by assessing the risks and opportunities using our biodiversity investment framework. We reduce investing in companies whose business conduct has actual severe adverse impacts on land use and biodiversity, as indicated by an MSCI red flag rating ('exclusion') and consider environmental, social and governance factors in our investment decisions ('ESG integration'). In addition, we use our influence as a shareholder to engage and vote at shareholder meetings ('active shareholdership') and offer tailored solutions that invest in projects actively contributing to biodiversity conservation and restoration ('positive impact'). We believe an approach using these four tools is essential to effectively integrate biodiversity into our portfolios.

The food transition in our own operations

In our office restaurants, we prioritise local and seasonal ingredients and avoid food waste wherever possible. Our restaurants increasingly provide vegetarian and vegan alternatives.

Our biodiversity policy

We work with clients to prevent negative impacts, such as biodiversity loss, and to promote positive impacts, such as the protection of endangered species and ecosystem restoration.

Putting life back into the soil

Through our Kempen SDG Farmland Fund, we want to make a positive contribution to the future of farmers, nature, climate and the food transition.

Portrait of Richard Jacobs, employee at Van Lanschot Kempen

Voting rights as a shareholder

We use our voting rights to express our opinions on food transition issues – for example, shareholder proposals relating to deforestation or plastic waste. We assess shareholder proposals on a case-by-case basis and support meaningful proposals.

Finance for Biodiversity Pledge

In November 2021, we signed the Finance for Biodiversity Pledge, committing to protect and restore biodiversity through our financial activities and investments.

Find out more about the pledge

Source

* Sustainable Development Goals (2019), Nature’s Dangerous Decline ‘Unprecedented’; Species Extinction Rates
** World Wide Fund for Nature (2024), Catastrophic 73% decline in the average size of global wildlife populations in just 50 years reveals a ‘system in peril’