Addressing Biodiversity Loss – Evolution Or Revolution Of English Law?

As part of The Law Society's Horizon Scanning project and in the run-up to the UN Biodiversity Conference to take place in December 2022, we look at the trend of biodiversity loss and how this will challenge businesses and the entire legal profession as a result.

Biodiversity is the diversity of life, which arises from all living organisms, including plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms. It is fundamental to the functioning of ecosystems, and humans, business and society at large are directly reliant on the contributions that nature provides – yet more than one million animal and plant species are currently threatened with extinction. It is well known that human activities have substantially contributed to this loss of biodiversity, and efforts are now being made to reverse the decline and to hold those who are responsible to account.