A4. Global biodiversity impacts of UK economic activity /
sustainable consumption
Indicator Description
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Indicator under development. Production and consumption in the
UK has an impact on the natural environment beyond our shores
through the range of imports and exports of goods and services. A
range of research work has been undertaken, but it has not at
present been possible to develop an indicator.
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Summary
No change from previous publication.
Following the adoption of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity
2011–2020 by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on
Biological Diversity (CBD) in 2010, the UK biodiversity indicators
were reviewed, and a programme of work was put
in place to develop and refine the indicator set for future
reporting to the CBD. In the review, a small number of gaps
were identified where there were no current indicators for
particular CBD goals and targets. One such gap related to
indicators for reporting on global impacts of sustainable
consumption and production.
Progress to date
No change from previous publication.
Research has been undertaken to assess how
patterns of UK consumption impact on the key drivers of
biodiversity change overseas and identify options for mitigating
those impacts. This includes::
- Analysis and modelling of trade pathways and
supply chains for goods and services to identify important
sources of production; and
- Identification of the potential impact of key
production systems and products on
biodiversity.
An assessment framework has been developed to provide
information on the direct and indirect links between consumption in
the UK and environmental impacts that occur due to production in
other countries. A global
trade model that retains product-level production detail
and quantitative links to associated environmental impacts has been
developed to allow top-down assessment of potential impacts.
This model facilitates the selection of priority commodities
and regions which can then be investigated in more detail using a
case-study approach. Further research was undertaken in 2014 to
further develop this approach.
In combination, these projects have defined
what data are available on biomass flows into the UK economy, and
the scope for undertaking the same analysis at country level using
Scotland as a model.
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Last updated: December 2015
Latest data: N/A