Finns' biodiversity footprint calculated for the first time – Important step forward in combating biodiversity loss

The biodiversity footprint of the average Finnish consumer has been calculated for the first time. The study (summary in English) was carried out by researchers from the University of Jyväskylä for the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra. The biodiversity footprint shows how much of a burden an individual's lifestyle places on nature.

The method developed by the researchers enables the calculation of the biodiversity footprint of consumption in any country or region, provided the necessary data is available.

The same method can also be used by businesses, municipalities, and other organisations to calculate their own biodiversity footprint. The calculation helps in selecting the most effective measures to reduce the impact on nature. This is an important step forward in the development of a general method for calculating the biodiversity footprint.

"Halting biodiversity loss has been hampered by the lack of an internationally comparable measure. Nature is also often perceived as a local issue. The calculation of the biodiversity footprint will now help us to understand the biodiversity impact of Finnish consumption both in Finland and outside the country," says Dr. Sami El Geneidy, researcher at the University of Jyväskylä.

The development of biodiversity footprinting is important because nature and the services it provides are fundamental to life on Earth. The Finnish economy and citizens’ well-being also rely on nature. Despite this, biodiversity loss continues both globally and in Finland.

Almost half of our biodiversity footprint is caused by what we eat, and smart everyday choices can help us reduce our impact on nature

To calculate the biodiversity footprint, we first need to know the type and amount of consumption. Then, we need to determine how much this consumption contributes to the drivers of biodiversity loss such as land use or climate emissions. We also need to know where in the world, for example, land is used and what kind of damage it causes to nature.

The results show that in Finland, the biodiversity footprint of consumption is not at a sustainable level. If everyone in the world ate, lived, travelled and consumed to the same extent as Finns, at least one fifth of the world's species would be at risk of extinction. Finland's large footprint is due to factors such as high consumption, a diet rich in meat and dairy products, and climate-intensive transport - patterns that are typical in Western countries.

Food consumption accounts for 42% of the average Finn's biodiversity footprint, with more than half of the environmental impact of eating coming from meat and dairy products. Ninety-eight percent of the environmental damage from eating is caused outside Finland through international supply chains, while only 2% takes place within Finland.

Transport accounts for about a quarter of Finns’ biodiversity footprint. Other consumption - such as leisure and recreational consumption, and health care and household goods - accounts for about one fifth of the footprint. Energy from housing accounts for 14% of the average footprint.

The calculation is based partly on national values and partly on international averages. In addition, it has not been possible to take into account all the drivers of biodiversity loss, as data on their impacts is still scarce. The results of the study should therefore be considered as indicative and subject to future refinement.

"It is clear that the calculation needs to be further developed. However, the study already shows that the biodiversity footprint of consumption is not sustainable and that there are multiple ways to reduce the footprint. The results can be widely used to promote sustainable lifestyles in Finland and elsewhere in the world," says Sami El Geneidy.

The study also shows that it is possible to significantly reduce the biodiversity footprint of consumption through smart everyday choices. The greatest positive impacts come from increasing the proportion of domestic plant-based proteins and fish in the diet, conserving energy, reducing the use of wood and other fuels, promoting sustainable transport, buying second-hand, and avoiding unnecessary purchases.

Finland excels in calculation methods, with researchers paving the way for an international metric for measuring the biodiversity footprint

Internationally significant research and development work in measuring environmental impacts has been carried out in Finland. Together with partners, Sitra has supported the University of Jyväskylä in developing methods for calculating the biodiversity footprint. Finnish expertise is also being developed by institutions such as LUT University, the Finnish Environment Institute, and the Natural Resources Institute Finland.

"Many Finnish cities and companies have calculated, or are currently calculating, their biodiversity footprint. The more actors take up the challenge, the faster the methods will develop. The next step should be to mainstream the calculation of the biodiversity footprint, develop calculation services, and create a common international measure," says Lotta Toivonen, Expert at Sitra’s Sustainability Programme.

Work on mainstreaming biodiversity footprint accounting is already well underway. In a project partly funded by Sitra, researchers at the University of Jyväskylä have calculated the biodiversity footprint of all the operations of S Group, one of Finland’s largest retail groups. Furthermore, Sitra, the technology company Nokia, and the University of Jyväskylä are working together to mainstream biodiversity footprint accounting internationally.

In addition, finance group Nordea and the University of Jyväskylä have launched a collaboration to develop methods for assessing the biodiversity footprint and nature related risks of the financial sector.