Design professionals are uniquely positioned to help clients address their biodiversity goals. As an architect, engineer, or landscape architect, you must also navigate the ethical considerations and risks inherent in this critical issue.
Biodiversity, the variability among living organisms across all ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are a part, faces a threat marked by the loss of species, genetic diversity, and ecosystems. According to the World Wildlife Fund, the species extinction rate is estimated to be between 1,000 and 10,000 times higher than the natural extinction rate, the rate that would occur if humans didn’t exist. The primary drivers—habitat destruction, pollution, climate change, resource over-exploitation, and invasive species—have led to what scientists call the .
The repercussions extend beyond the natural world, taking a substantial toll on global economies and public health. reports that more than half of the global GDP, $44 trillion in economic value, is at risk if nature degradation is not reversed before 2030. Biodiversity loss will eventually impact everyone.
Opportunities to help
Through design choices and professional experience, architects, engineers, and landscape architects are in a pivotal position to help slow that loss. You’re also in a position to help your clients reach their climate and biodiversity goals.
Soon, many companies will have little choice but to take on biodiversity along with other sustainability measures as calls grow for companies to disclose the impacts of their businesses on nature. Governmental organizations and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting frameworks are increasingly addressing nature-related risks. For example, the UN-brokered (GBF), adopted in late 2022, includes a global target to conserve at least 30 percent of lands, inland waters, and oceans, as well as the restoration of 30 percent of degraded ecosystems by 2030. (Read about Canada’s .) And the (GRI) is updating its biodiversity standard.
Design professionals can specify sustainable materials, design green roofs, and create spaces for animals and plants to thrive.
Lead by design
Many companies are moving to address the risk their actions pose to nature. Design professionals can help. You and your peers can advise clients on the best ways to accomplish many of these goals. Corporate leaders need to understand the challenges ahead, the risks and opportunities for business, and what actions their companies can take. You can help your clients develop biodiversity management plans or aid in identifying and mitigating biodiversity risks. You can design buildings and infrastructure that minimize their negative impact on biodiversity and promote the health of the surrounding environment.
Design professionals can specify sustainable materials, design green roofs, and create spaces for animals and plants to thrive. You can incorporate natural features into designs for new developments. You can also design for the conservation of existing critical, rare, sensitive, and healthy areas like floodplains and wetlands, and the protection of endangered species and habitats. And you can avoid using invasive plants and prioritize the use of native plants.
Do the right thing
For architects, engineers, and landscape architects, working to reverse biodiversity loss also aligns with professional ethics. As professionals, you’re obligated to safeguard public health, safety, and welfare. Some of these professional duties expressly include the environment. For example, the AIA Ethical Standard 6.4 states, “Members should consider with their clients the impact of each project on the natural habitat and ecosystem to promote environmental and human health.” The ASCE Code of Ethics devotes an entire ethical standard to the “Natural and Built Environment.” Because a robust ecosystem is integral to public well-being, design professionals should prioritize sustainability and biodiversity. By protecting biodiversity, you can help your clients and the environment.
Know the risks
For design professionals, biodiversity opportunities come with risks, too. For example:
Client ESG goal guarantees. To remain compliant with ESG reporting requirements, including biodiversity, some organizations will want assurances downstream from firms they do business with—including design firms—that they have compatible ESG strategies in place. This will have an impact on your firm’s design approach, material specifications, and even consultant selection.
Contractual obligations. Design professionals may have contractual obligations to project owners (particularly large or public clients) to protect biodiversity and adhere to sustainability requirements. Owner-written contracts might require you to meet certain sustainability standards or to certify that a project meets all sustainability codes and regulations. Failure to meet these obligations could lead to disputes, potential liability, and insurance coverage issues.
Laws and regulations. Design professionals must navigate a complex web of federal, provincial, state, and local environmental laws and regulations. Non-compliance with these (sometimes-conflicting) requirements can lead to legal challenges, fines, and project delays.
Negligence and professional liability. Biodiversity loss, pollution, or habitat destruction on a project can also lead to allegations of negligence against designers and substantial professional liability risks. (Some activist organizations employ "strategic" biodiversity litigation to force restoration and seek compensation for damages from developers.)
Mitigating these risks requires educating your firm and your clients, contractual protections, appropriate insurance coverage, and a steadfast commitment to ethics and sustainability.
A delicate balance
Design professionals play a crucial role in tackling biodiversity loss. Through your design choices, you can assist clients in achieving climate and biodiversity objectives while aligning with evolving regulations and ethical standards. However, these opportunities must be paired with a strong commitment to effective risk management.
色多多视频has placed nature as a major pillar of our sustainability strategy. Read about AXA XL’s 2023-26 Sustainability Strategy, ‘Roots of Resilience,’ which focuses on protecting natural ecosystems, addressing climate change, and embedding sustainable practices across our operations.
