Business for Nature

Breaking the cycle of harmful subsidies: a path to sustainability 🌱   $2.6 trillion - that’s how much is spent annually on subsidies that harm biodiversity, accelerate climate change, and degrade ecosystems. These subsidies, designed to support industries, are instead keeping us trapped in unsustainable practices.   As Eva Zabey, CEO of Business for Nature, puts it: "The more people are dependent on these subsidies, the more the subsidies will remain, and we won’t be transitioning away."   By redirecting public funds toward nature-positive solutions, we can protect the planet, foster sustainable industries, and ensure a just transition for communities worldwide.    💡 Dive into this week’s #NatureFinance article to discover Eva Zabey’s insights on breaking free from harmful subsidies and paving the way for a sustainable future.   #NatureFinance #Sustainability #Biodiversity #SubsidyReform #ClimateAction #PRF

How can we align private investment and action with the #GlobalBiodiversityFramework? 🌱 As #BiodiversityLoss becomes an increasingly salient global issue, so too does the call for a #NaturePositiveEconomy. That’s why a major focus of #COP16Colombia was on implementing the targets of the Global Biodiversity Framework. Whilst there have been major steps in the right direction, we need to transform the global finance architecture. In a recent article for Green Alliance, WWF-UK economist Vassilis Gkoumas writes on this global call for systematic change, supported by stakeholders including Finance for Biodiversity and our coalition, highlighting a need for: 🌎 A roadmap for the #NaturePositive economy, where governments and the private sector should direct financial flows away from economic activities that damage and destroy nature and towards more nature-friendly patterns of production and consumption. 🌎 Sectoral pathways to accelerate this transition, and enable businesses and financial institutions to better understand how they can align with and support the targets of the Environment Improvement Plan (EIP) and of the Global Biodiversity Framework. 🔗 Find out more: https://ow.ly/KuWf50UbyJM

How can #Biodiversity metrics be standardized to help halt #BiodiversityLoss? 🌱 During #COP16Colombia, UNEP-WCMC scientists released a paper examining the challenges faced when implementing effective biodiversity metrics. Whilst the number of biodiversity metrics has grown, it poses a challenge to work out which are the most reliable, scientifically robust and applicable for certain use cases. In a recent article, UNEP-WCMC explores what lessons can we learn, and what changes can be made to improve this process, including: 🌎 To establish metrics to help governments deliver on national and regional policy commitments (such as those agreed by the European Union, East African Community etc.) 🌎 To establish metrics to be part of a global or regional framework, to allow for easy reporting against the data generated, increasing the likelihood of government uptake. 🌎 To identify a pool of core minimum metrics encompassing the various considerations, with Biodiversity being measured across different levels, facets and benefits. High-quality metrics will allow the measurement of progress towards goals and targets, whether this happens at global, regional or national scales. 🔗 Read more: https://ow.ly/RbhE50Ub8I2

We are calling for continued effort towards an ambitious agreement to end plastic pollution. 🔊 Despite tireless efforts by Business For A Plastics Treaty and many others, a global plastics treaty was not finalized in Busan. Nevertheless, there has been: 🌎 An increasing sense of alignment amongst over 100 countries on critical elements such as global phase-outs and sustainable levels of plastic production. 🌎 Support from businesses, as setting legally binding rules to end plastics pollution is one of the key asks in our recommendations for effective implementation of the #GlobalBiodiversityFramework. At the resumed INC5.2 session, governments must make a choice. They can continue negotiating a treaty with universal support but little impact. Or they can agree on a treaty based on strong global rules across the full lifecycle of plastics. 🔗 Learn more: https://ow.ly/woPV50Ujgoi

Calling all businesses around the world to set #NatureStrategies! 🌱 A growing community of businesses and financial institutions recognize they cannot sustainably grow their business, or achieve their climate goals, without protecting and restoring #Nature. ‘It’s #NowforNature’ is a joint global campaign to bring together all businesses to act on nature and contribute towards a #NaturePositive world by 2030. So far, companies including L’OCCITANE Group, Hermès, Ørsted, Tetra Pak and Decathlon have had their nature strategies published as part of the campaign. Using the Nature Strategy Handbook, available in the following languages, more businesses can do the same: 🇬🇧 English 🇨🇳 Chinese 🇫🇷 French 🇯🇵 Japanese 🇵🇹 Portuguese 🇪🇸 Spanish A #NetZero, nature-positive and equitable future is possible and businesses can contribute by setting credible nature strategies. To empower more companies to step up, there are also Accelerator programs hosted by our partners to help companies on their journey. 🔗 Read the Nature Strategy Handbook here: https://ow.ly/Bsni50UfYeq

What progress has been made towards halting and reversing #NatureLoss by 2030? 🌱 In December 2022, UN Biodiversity reached a historic agreement to halt and reverse the unprecedented loss of biodiversity through the adoption of the #GlobalBiodiversityFramework. Two years on, the Protected Planet Report 2024 by UNEP-WCMC and IUCN provides the first official global evaluation of progress towards Target 3 of the Framework. While there has been progress around the world, there are gaps. To succeed in halting and reversing #BiodiversityLoss, there must be: 🌎 More work to scale up coverage and place protected and conserved areas where they are most needed, whilst insuring human rights, particularly for Indigenous Peoples and local communities. 🌎 An improvement and better tracking of the quality of management, governance and #Conservation outcomes in protected and preserved arrears. “Global ambitions will need to translate into urgent national and local action. All countries around the world will need to contribute in every way that they can.” - Neville Ash, Director at UNEP-WCMC and Grethel Aguilar, Director General at IUCN 🔗 Read the report: https://ow.ly/75Ao50Ub51E

How can businesses factor #Nature into their supply chains? 🌱 Global supply chains can often be hard to control and are frequently overlooked when considering a company’s impact on nature and #Biodiversity. In the latest ‘It’s #NowForNature’ article, we spoke to various companies including Tetra Pak, Holcim, GSK and WBCSD – World Business Council for Sustainable Development on how businesses can factor nature into managing their supply chains, namely through: 🌎 Conducting a nature-related materiality assessment to look at the issues across their supply chain, then using information and insights gathered, to develop a #NatureStrategy. 🌎 Setting minimum requirements for all suppliers. 🌎 Introducing additional targets around sourcing materials from certified and controlled sources. 🌎 Breaking down exactly what they are buying, whether it’s ingredients, raw materials or finished products, to build a comprehensive assessment of their impacts along their full life cycle. 🌎 Conducting supplier due diligence programs to identify, prevent and mitigate ESG impacts in their supply chain, including nature-related topics. 🌎 Explaining targets and expectations to suppliers, as well as making suppliers aware of tools they can use that already exist, such as ENCORE. 🌎 Insisting there is a certain level of compliance for bigger contracts, mandating that suppliers have a nature strategy as part of tendering process. Anni Vuohelainen, Lucy Gaffney Angela Graham-Brown, Adele Cheli 🔗 Read more: https://ow.ly/RGL050UfEo2

Join us next week for the EWT/Business for Nature webinar, where we’ll explore how businesses can advance #BiodiversityConservation and the sustainable use of natural resources in South Africa. 🌱 This engaging session will feature insights from leading companies and policymakers who have participated in workshops throughout the year, offering practical examples and strategies to inspire meaningful action. Register now. 👇

What were some key outcomes agreed at COP29 Azerbaijan? 🔊 Overall many commentators said there was a distinct lack of focus on #Nature and agriculture and more needs to be done to incorporate nature protection and restoration into national climate plans. Nature4Climate coordinated a letter signed by Business for Nature and more than 100 others including companies and Indigenous Peoples organizations calling for UNFCCC Parties to properly recognize and finance nature’s role in addressing the climate crisis, or risk undermining global efforts to limit global warming to 1.5C. In a recent article, Carbon Brief provides an in-depth analysis of all the key outcomes in Baku – both inside and outside the COP. Co-authored by Aruna Chandrasekhar, Ayesha Tandon, Daisy Dunne, Giuliana Viglione, Josh Gabbatiss, Molly Lempriere, Orla Dwyer, Simon Evans, and Wanyuan Song, the analysis explores: 🌎 Formal negotiations, such as an agreement being reached on carbon trading under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. 🌎 An agreement to commence the third periodic review of the long-term global goal of the UN climate regime and to continue discussions at #COP30 next year. 🌎 Global leaders and country pledges, where some 80 heads of state attended #COP29’s World Leaders Climate Action Summit, the high-level segment of the talks. 🌎 That despite #NatureDay on 21 November, where Environment Minister Marina Silva emphasized the role of trees in tackling environmental and social challenges, the COP29 presidency’s action agenda did not mention #Deforestation or land-use change. Looking ahead to #COP30 in Brazil, a representative from Brazil’s environment ministry has confirmed that the country is working hard with the Colombian #COP16 presidency to put #Nature at the heart of the summit. 🔗 Read more: https://ow.ly/ESC550UeU8s

How can plastic pollution be tackled in a globally coordinated way? 🍃 The #GlobalPlasticsTreaty highlights the need to adopt and ratify an ambitious United Nations treaty to end plastic pollution. Setting legally binding rules to end plastics pollution is one of the key asks in Business for Nature's policy recommendations for effective implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework. This week, Business For A Plastics Treaty is emphasizing the #INC5 in Busan as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to address plastic pollution at a global level with a treaty that is fit for purpose. In order to deliver an ambitious treaty in line with the UNEA resolution 5/14, we need an initial agreement at INC5 for the Global Plastics Treaty to include the following critical elements, at a minimum: 🌎 Strong provisions to restrict or phase out problematic and avoidable plastic products as well as chemicals of concern, and to improve product design. 🌎 An obligation to introduce or advance targets and systems for collection, reuse and recycling at the national level. 🌎 A comprehensive package to support the implementation of the treaty. 🌎 A mandate to develop sector or product specific approaches to inform future decisions at #COP. 🌎 A sound mechanism for reporting, monitoring progress and evaluating the treaty's effectiveness on a regular basis. There is no time to waste, and ambition is critical to success to drive system-wide transformation across the whole life cycle of plastics. #BusinessNeedsGlobalRules 🔗 Find out more: https://ow.ly/VRU850UbBHb