Energy giant BP announced today the publication of a new position paper outlining the company’s goals to achieve a net positive impact on biodiversity in new projects and to enhance biodiversity around the company’s existing major operating sites.

BP’s new policies include the following pledges:

• We commit not to operate any new oil and gas exploration or production activities inside the boundary of officially inscribed UNESCO World Heritage sites; and inside the boundary of Strict Nature Reserves (International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN category Ia) or Wilderness Areas (IUCN category Ib) as listed on 1 January 2020.
• We will aim to achieve a net positive impact on biodiversity in our new projects.
• We will aim to enhance biodiversity around our existing major operating sites.
• We will support biodiversity restoration and the sustainable use of natural resources.

Today’s policy paper publication was timed to coincide with World Environment Day. Commenting on the new biodiversity policy, BP CEO Bernard Looney said:

“Today opens a new chapter in our approach to biodiversity. Because, along with climate change, loss of biodiversity is one of the greatest threats the world faces.”

Looney added, ““For bp, biodiversity is more than just an ‘add-on’. It is a vital part of our purpose to reimagine energy for people and our planet.”

BP’s new position was developed with the help of international nature and conservation organizations and experts, including Conservation International, Fauna & Flora International, UNESCO and IUCN.

BP has been working actively to boost its sustainability profile. The energy giant recently outlined its roadmap to achieve net zero emissions, and earlier this year the company announced that it would exit multiple trade associations due to their incompatibility with the BP’s climate policies.