

The common ground paper focuses on the assessment and disclosure of negative impacts,
avoided negative impacts and positive impacts on biodiversity resulting from the investments
of financial institutions as a way to contribute to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. The aim of the paper is to define harmonized principles underlying biodiversity impact
assessment approaches/methodologies. These harmonised principles can be used by financial
institutions interested in assessing the impact of investments on biodiversity. Although the
focus is very much on quantifying this impact, the principles are also relevant for a qualitative
analysis of biodiversity impact (e.g. to understand what should be included in the analysis and
how impacts can be defined). This principles could also support financial institutions with the
formulation of strategies and the setting of goals