Value chain risk and biodiversity loss
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Covid-19 and biodiversity risk
THE END OF SUPPLY CHAINS: TOWARDS A CIRCULAR ECONOMY?
It is thought that we have in fact already experienced the devastating impact that biodiversity loss can cause to global trade and human society. The emergence of zoonotic diseases like Covid-19 which travel from animals to humans are driven by land-use change, intensive livestock production, wildlife trade and climate change. 121 As habitats are degraded and reduced there is greater risk of diseased wildlife populations that remain. Those populations come into increasing contact with humans or livestock moving into former habitats or through wildlife trade, leading to zoonotic disease emergence. 122 [fig. 6]
Part of the solution to limiting the biodiversity impacts of value chains will be the development of a circular economy. 124 The circular economy is a model for economic production and consumption that prioritises sustainability and reuse of raw and processed materials. Instead of a linear economy characterised by harvesting and processing of raw materials followed by human consumption and disposal (a “take-make-waste” system), the circular economy makes use of the energy and materials already in existence to create a subsequent generation of products and consumables. This circle relies on sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling. It prioritises minimising the harvest of new finite resources and the levels of waste leaving the cycle. 125
The drivers of biodiversity loss also can give rise to pandemics
The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the range of sectors that may be impacted by biodiversity loss. To cite just one of many examples, in 2018 the cruise industry was valued at USD 47 billion and was the fastest growing sector of the tourism industry. Yet, by the middle of 2020, it had been stopped in its tracks with cruises cancelled well into 2021 and the entire industry facing uncertain long-term prospects. 123
The circular economy is a systems solution framework that tackles global challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss,
waste, and pollution. Ellen Macarthur Foundation 126
THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IS INTRICATELY LINKED TO BIODIVERSITY LOSS AND ECOSYSTEM HEALTH
Drivers of zoonotic disease emergence
[fig. 6]
Land-use change
Direct and indirect effects on biodiversity and ecosystem health
Wildlife trade
Drivers are interconnected and often overlapping
Public health crisis (eg. COVID-19 pandemic)
Zoonotic disease emergence
Intensified livestock production
Climate change
Some effects exacerbate drivers
121 Odette Lawler et al., The COVID-19 pandemic is intricately linked to biodiversi- ty loss and ecosystem health, The Lancet Planetary Health, November 2021 122 Ibid. 123 Jean-Baptiste Jouffray et al., Blue Acceleration: An Ocean of Risks and Oppor- tunities, ORRAA, October 2021.
124 The Nature Imperative: How the circular economy tackles biodiversity loss, Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2021. 125 Closing the loop – a new circular economy package, EPRS, January 2016. 126 What is a circular economy?, Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
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