The Business Benefits of Engaging with the Sustainable Development Goals

Aquacross Business Brief

Publication: Policy Brief
Citation: Reilly, Kate, et. al. (2017): The Business Benefits of Engaging with the Sustainable Development Goals. Business Brief No. 1. European Union's Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation grant agreement No. 642317.

This brief aims to highlight the benefits to business of engaging with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and how the EU Horizon 2020 project Knowledge, Assessment, and Management for Aquatic Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Across EU Policies (AQUACROSS) can assist with the SDGs focused on managing aquatic ecosystems.

The key messages of the brief are:

Engaging with the SDGs represents an important opportunity for new markets, investment and partnerships for businesses working directly and indirectly with marine and freshwater environments.
Achieving these SDGs will improve environmental performance and reduce risks for business, including those related to biodiversity loss. Businesses that engage with the SDGs can benefit from new market opportunities and improved engagement with customers and stakeholders, as well as from increased water productivity across supply chains and products.
Research contributes to this process by enabling businesses to access and use data for monitoring risks, identifying future trends and reporting their contributions to the SDGs.
AQUACROSS’s ongoing delivery of knowledge, tools and approaches for assessing threats to aquatic ecosystems and resources, understanding the policy landscape, and developing scenarios support businesses in this process.

The AQUACROSS project aims to support EU efforts to protect aquatic biodiversity and ensure the provision of aquatic ecosystem services, by advancing ecosystem-based management (EBM) of aquatic ecosystems. The business brief is available for download.

Ecosystem-Based Management, Ecosystem Services and Aquatic Biodiversity

Theory, Tools and Applications

Year 2020

Publication:Book Section

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are increasingly employed as a tool to protect Europe's swiftly declining marine biodiversity. However, despite increasing coverage, MPA effectiveness and equity is considered highly variable. Concurrently, Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM) – that is, management that aims to protect, restore, or enhance the resilience and sustainability of an ecosystem to ensure sustainable flows of ecosystem services and conserve its biodiversity – is growing in prominence.

Ecosystem-Based Management for More Effective and Equitable Marine Protected Areas

A Case Study on the Faial-Pico Channel Marine Protected Area, Azores

Year 2020

Publication:Document

AQUACROSS Plan for Exploitation and Dissemination of Project Results

Deliverable D1.5

Year 2018

Publication:Document

Boteler, Benjamin et. al. 2015: Dissemination Plan – Strategy for disseminating AQUACROSS results and findings. Deliverable D1.1. Berlin, unpublished.

Dissemination Plan – Strategy for disseminating AQUACROSS results and findings

Deliverable D1.1

Year 2015

Publication:Article

Lago, M., Boteler, B., Rouillard, J., Abhold, K., Jähnig, S., Iglesias-Campos, A., Delacámara, G., Piet, G., Hein, T., Nogueira, A., Lillebø, A., Strosser, P., Robinson, L., De Wever, A., O'Higgins, T., Schlüter, M., Török, L., Reichert, P., van Ham, C., Villa, F. and Hugh, M. (2019). Introducing the H2020 AQUACROSS project: Knowledge, Assessment, and Management for AQUAtic Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services aCROSS EU policies. Science of The Total Environment, 652, pp.320-329.

Introducing the H2020 AQUACROSS Project

Knowledge, Assessment, and Management for AQUAtic Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services aCROSS EU policies

Year 2019

Publication:Case Study

Lough Erne sustains multiple competing activities, each with different demands from the system in terms of ecosystem services and physical resources. It is a heavily modified water body, containing a range of non-native Invasive Alien Species (IAS) are considered a threat to Lough Erne biodiversity and also negatively affect the society that surrounds it. In this report, we apply the AQUACROSS Assessment Framework to understand this challenge and identify and assess ecosystem-based management solutions to the challenge of the IAS Nutall’s pond weed. The case study is available for download.

Management and Impact of Invasive Alien Species (IAS) in Lough Erne in Ireland

AQUACROSS Case Study 4 Report

Year 2018

Publication:Case Study

Freshwater ecosystems in the Swiss plateau are threatened by multiple stressors that deteriorate water quality and hydromorphology. To restore these ecosystems and stop the biodiversity decline, multiple management measures will be implemented over the next decades. We propose methods for a spatial and temporal prioritisation to coordinate measures from different sectors and maximise their effectiveness while considering other societal needs. The case study is available for download.

Biodiversity Management for Rivers of the Swiss Plateau

AQUACROSS Case Study 7 Report

Year 2018

Publication:Case Study

Over the past three years, the AQUACROSS Assessment Framework was developed, tested, and applied in eight case studies across Europe to solve local biodiversity challenges. Finally, results from each Case Study were published in a 30-page case study report and 3-page executive summary report. The case study is available for download.

Trade-Offs in Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management in the North Sea Aimed at Achieving Biodiversity Strategy Targets

AQUACROSS Case Study 1 Report

Year 2018

Event:Conference

On 10 and 11 October 2018, the AQUACROSS Final Conference on "Ecosystem-Based Management for the Protection of Aquatic Biodiversity – Practice and Lessons Learnt" took place in Brussels. AQUACROSS project team members presented different tools and results regarding aquatic biodiversity protection developed during the project. Conference participants from 21 countries received the eight AQUACROSS Case Studies and the Case Study Gallery with posters, photos and information material with particular interest. The presentations held during the conference are now available on the AQUACROSS project conference website.

Ecosystem-Based Management for the Protection of Aquatic Biodiversity – AQUACROSS Final Conference

10 - 11 October 2018
Brussels, Belgium

Language: English
Authorship: Dr. Manuel Lago

Kate Reilly

Chantal Van Ham

Marc Hall (IUCN)
Funding: European Commission, Directorate-General Research & Innovation (DG Research & Innovation), International
Year: 2017
Dimension: 8 pp.
Project: Knowledge, Assessment, and Management for Aquatic Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Across EU Policies (AQUACROSS)
Project ID: 2803
Table of contents: Click to show full table of contents

The business benefits of engaging with the Sustainable Development Goals
1. Key Messages
2.The Aquatic Ecosystem-Related SDGs
3. Benefits for Business of Engaging with SDGs
3.1 Risk Management
3.2 Seizing Opportunities
3.3 Partnerships with Research
3.4 The Added Value of AQUACROSS for Business
3.5 Next Steps
4. References
4.1 Authors
5. The AQUACROSS Partners
Keywords: Biodiversity

Coastal + Marine

Economics

EU

Water

freshwater, coastal, marine, ecosystems, resilience, EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy, nature conservation aquatic biodiversity, ecosystem-based management, Europe, H2020, assessment framework, policy targets, sustainability, ecosystem services assessment, forecasting, economic valuation, participatory scenarios, risk assessment

Europe

business brief

Further Links

Aquacross project website

PublicationReportDeveloping the AQUACROSS Assessment Framework

Aquatic biodiversity is declining worldwide and faster than in terrestrial systems. To better protect these vulnerable species and safeguard the valuable services they provide and from which humans depend, is a key goal of the AQUACROSS project. To do this, it is... Read more

Gómez et al. (2016) Developing the AQUACROSS Assessment Framework. Deliverable 3.2, AQUACROSS, European Union's Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Grant Agreement No. 642317.

PublicationWebsiteAQUACROSS

AQUACROSS Projektwebsite

The AQUACROSS website provides information on the AQUACROSS project, approach and case studies. Project outputs such as deliverables, policy briefs and publications are regularly promoted on the website. Ecologic Institute is responsible for the concept, design and... Read more

Ecologic Institute (2015): Knowledge, Assessment, and Management for Aquatic Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Across EU Policies (AQUACROSS). URL: http://aquacross.eu/

PublicationReportThe AQUACROSS Innovative Concept

Gómez et al. (2016) The AQUACROSS Innovative Concept. Deliverable 3.1, European Union's Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation grant agreement No. 642317. ... Read more

Gómez et al. (2016) The AQUACROSS Innovative Concept. Deliverable 3.1, European Union's Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation grant agreement No. 642317.

PublicationNewsletterAQUACROSS Newsletter

AQUACROSS seeks to advance knowledge and application of ecosystem-based management (EBM) for aquatic ecosystems to support the timely achievement of the EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy targets. The AQUACROSS newsletter delivers insights and shares developments within the... Read more

Ecologic Institute (2015-2018): AQUACROSS Newsletter. Newsletter. Berlin: Ecologic Institute.