Mobility and Sustainability.

UN Conference on Biodiversity in Bonn

The protection of biological diversity is a challenge for humanity as a whole. All responsible players in industry, science and society are called on to bundle their strengths all over the world to put an end to the rapid extinction of endangered species.

Biodiversity is moving rapidly to the top of the agenda in the field of politics - not only in Germany, but also throughout the EU and on an international level. A new EU Commission Action Plan on the Conservation of Biological Diversity has been in place since May 2006. Biodiversity was also on the agenda at the meeting of the environment ministers of the G8 states in March 2007. Both the German government and the Portuguese EU presidency have expressly resolved to include the economy in the protection of biological diversity.

The 9th UN Conference on Biodiversity  took place in Bonn in May 2008. Over 5000 participants from all over the world were expected in the former capital of West Germany. Germany  chaired the conference, where the global community  discussed on how to effectively protect seas and forest areas and assessed the progress made towards achieving the goals agreed on in 1992 at the Convention on Biological Diversity in Rio. Volkswagen was one of the first companies to join the Business and Biodiversity Initiative, supporting the goals of the agreement on the part of the economy. This sent out a clear message at the conference encouraging increased dedication on the part of the economy to the protection of biodiversity.


The Good Companies

International Companies are supporting the Business & Biodiversity Initiative. By now, more than 35 companies signed the Leadership Declaration which envisages the integration of biodiversity into entrepreneurial action and management. 

Website of  the Business and Biodiversite Initiative

Website of the Convention on Biological Diversity


Biological Diversity Mission Statement
On 21/04/08, Volkswagen introduced the Mission Statement on Biological Diversity defining concrete measures to be implemented throughout the company and raising the status of species protection. The statement outlines the company's dedication to climate protection as an active contribution to the protection of biological diversity and species protection at its sites all over the world. An extensive action plan was also created to underline the dedication to species protection, stipulating that the sites must be assessed, the key data system and creation of reports expanded and the suppliers made aware of their responsibility. Volkswagen also plans to increase its expertise in the field of biodiversity: we will become more involved in joint projects with competent partners and take part in discussions on the topic.

Volkswagen AG Mission Statement on Biological Diversity