Close to 80 business leaders and senior corporate executives gathered at a Colombo hotel on Wednesday to discuss a crucial challenge for business: protection of Sri Lanka’s biodiversity and environmental degradation It was the inaugural members meeting of the Sri Lanka Business and Biodiversity Platform (SLBBP) of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce titled “There is [...]

The Sundaytimes Sri Lanka

Lankan business leaders discuss biodiversity concerns through Ceylon Chamber initiative

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Close to 80 business leaders and senior corporate executives gathered at a Colombo hotel on Wednesday to discuss a crucial challenge for business: protection of Sri Lanka’s biodiversity and environmental degradation
It was the inaugural members meeting of the Sri Lanka Business and Biodiversity Platform (SLBBP) of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce titled “There is no business without biodiversity”

A chamber statement issued before the meeting said that the overall mandate of the SLBBP is to encourage dialogue and raise awareness on biodiversity and sustainability issues amongst the Sri Lankan business community. Backed by 25 Patron Member companies, the grouping works to assist the private sector in understanding and mainstreaming biodiversity, it said.

Dilhan C. Fernando, Chair of the Advisory Committee, in his opening remarks at the Kingsbury Hotel meeting said that the impact of environmental degradation that was once a prospect is now a reality.

“Biological diversity is the resource upon which we depend, the link between all organisms on earth, it forms an interdependent ecosystem. Together we are a part of that eco system and that means that if, as we see today, there is a biodiversity crisis our health, as in human health and our livelihoods are at risk too. As for our progress and performance, we are currently using 25 per cent more natural resources than the planet can sustain,” he said.

Mr. Fernando, whose family company Dilmah does a lot of ‘silent’ work in helping underprivileged communities, children with disabilities and environmental protection, said degradation is increasing at a rate of 5-10 million hectares annually and the life support system is diminishing.
He said by 2050 the world will have to sustain 8-9 billion people with 70-80 per cent more food required.

Speaking of the role that business must play in this equation, he said that every business is part of an ecosystem that includes the community and the environment and biodiversity is at the heart of that system.

Every action of business, whether it is manufacturing or a service, has an impact on the environment, uses some form of ecosystem service. “There is in the first place therefore an ethical obligation for businesses to use their capabilities and resources to benefit community and environment. That is not an ethical option though but an ethical obligation. It determines whether businesses choose to be parasitic in their relationship with the community that provides for it, by extracting benefit and externalising its impact on both, or whether we chose to maintain a symbiotic relationship with the community and the environment, benefiting both as we benefit,” he added.

He referred to a recent Nielsen Global Survey of Corporate Social Responsibility which said customers would pay more for products and services from companies that are committed to positive social and environmental impact, a figure which is up 50 per cent from the same survey in 2012.

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