The destruction of natural habitats undermines nature’s ability to regulate temperatures and protect against extreme weather. Photograph: Ina Fasssbender/AFP via Getty ImagesWith more than half of the world’s economic output dependent on nature, biodiversity fuels the global economy. Business and the natural world have traditionally been viewed separately, with economies relying on the exploitation of nature for profit but now is the time that companies must make meaningful change.
The World Bank estimates that as much as $2.7 trillion in global GDP could be lost per year by 2030 due to the collapse of ecosystem services – the basic services provided by nature that make life possible. These figures are sure to grab the attention of investors and policymakers. For industries that are highly dependent on nature, including food and agriculture, fashion and construction, any decline in ecosystem services presents material financial risks.
Some investors have responded to the concerning rate of biodiversity loss and its potential devastating financial consequences. Aviva has urged policymakers to embed nature in climate transition plans while also working to improve its own performance, linking its climate and biodiversity goals, and publishing a biodiversity policy that aims to protect and restore nature across its investments.
So will we see an end to industrial fishing also ? I doubt it.
Wind turbines exploit nature just for profit. Solar farms exploit nature just for profit.