Around the World in 80 Species ― Exploring the Business of Extinction

The world is currently experiencing a sixth period of mass species extinction, and extinction of flora and fauna is caused by a variety of factors arising from industrial activity and increasing human population, such as global warming, climate change, habitat loss, pollution and use of pesticides. Most causes of extinction are linked to corporate activity, either directly or indirectly. Multinational businesses in high environmental impact sectors such as the extractives industry, energy, chemicals, tourism and agriculture have been changing the natural landscape for decades, even centuries, resulting in the loss of habitats and the collapse of biodiversity and local ecosystems.

This ground-breaking new book explores the linkages between the business world and extinction. It investigates corporate efforts to prevent extinction across 80 threatened species of flora and fauna around the world, focusing on corporate behaviour, corporate narrative and rhetoric, corporate accountability and the impact of corporate efforts to protect and enhance biodiversity and prevent extinction. 

It is the first book to explore corporate accounting and accountability in relation to species on the brink of extinction, and it looks at the efforts of responsible investors and NGOs to engage with companies on extinction prevention. Recommendations for policy and practice are presented in order to assist in extinction prevention.

Contributions from international academics and practitioners investigate and assess whether corporate efforts are in fact succeeding in staying the extinction trend and whether the global corporate community can indeed offer a ray of hope for the world’s dwindling biodiversity.

Jill Atkins holds a Chair in Financial Management at Sheffield University Management School and is a visiting professor at the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa.

Barry Atkins has a background in script-writing and editing for BBC Radio and TV.