Environment Bank’s Post

For the first time, scientists, governance, and business leaders have collaborated to estimate the cost of restoring Australia's environment.   The Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists has released a Blueprint detailing 24 practical actions and investments, across five key environmental asset groups, to repair Australia’s degraded landscapes.   This comprehensive plan leverages science and expert advice to highlight public and private investment opportunities worth A$7.3 billion annually over 30 years – just 0.3% of Australia's GDP.   Key measures include objectives across soils, inland waters, native vegetation, threatened species and coastal environment innovative private sector solutions, while emphasising the need for First Nations leadership in managing and repairing landscapes.   ASFI recognises the importance of nature to a resilient and sustainable economy. We welcome the report and look forward to building on its findings to support the direction of capital toward nature positive outcomes. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gqDUs3D2   #NatureRestoration #NaturePositive #SustainableFinance

Regulation is key for our regenerative future 🌱 so too is the role of private sector investment to accelerate the regenerative transition of our economic system

For the first time scientists, governance and business leaders in the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists have produced a dollar estimate of what it would take to fix Australia’s environment. They estimate that $7.3bn a year for 30 years - or just 0.3% of GDP - could avoid most extinctions, repair our soils and restore our rivers 🐨🌿🐟 “Given that nearly half of our GDP depends on nature, that’s a pretty sound investment,” said University of Queensland professor Martine Maron. Right now, just 0.1% of federal spending goes towards nature protection in Australia. It's not nearly enough to keep nature healthy. That's why we're calling on the Australian Government to significantly increase federal funding towards achieving #30by30, so that future generations can enjoy the nature that makes Australia so unique and special.  https://lnkd.in/gQYK9GCp

📢 Exciting News for Nature and the Economy!🌳🌊 Yesterday the European Parliament officially adopted the Nature Restoration Law! This landmark legislation aims to restore 20% of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030, and all ecosystems in need by 2050. 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: - 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬: Restoration of forests, wetlands, rivers, marine habitats, and urban green spaces. A special focus on reversing pollinator decline and enhancing green urban areas. -𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬: Every €1 invested in nature restoration can yield €4 to €38 in benefits, boosting agriculture, tourism, and other industries. -𝐄𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭: Healthier ecosystems can mitigate floods, droughts, and fires, improving overall climate resilience. 𝐀𝐝𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 The final text includes an “emergency brake” to suspend targets affecting agriculture under exceptional circumstances that threaten food security, addressing concerns from the farming sector. 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐬 At The First Thirty, we are committed to investing in nature, this aligns with this new law’s goals, we hope now to see an acceleration on action within private sector too. #NatureRestoration #Sustainability #GreenEconomy #EU #EnvironmentalImpact

EDIT!!!! 🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲 The European Parliament has approved the Nature Restoration Law by a margin of 54 votes. 🐯🐅🐆🐴🫎🫏🐎🌷🐗🪴🐙🦋🐝🐞🌹 81% of assessed #habitats around Europe are considered to be in poor condition. EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT is set to vote today on whether to approve the final version of the #Nature #Restoration #Law to protect and restore biodiversity. The law seeks to restore at least 20% of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030 and all ecosystems by 2050. Several Parliament groups on the right are plotting to abolish the measure in its final stages, knowing a rejection now would effectively bury the bill ahead of the EU elections in June. The outcome of today's vote is still highly uncertain. We are in a #climate #emergency and we should focus on deploying all the available resources to support the degradation of our natural system. There will be no economy on a death planet.

A trivial cost to save Australia's environment... The Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists released their Blueprint to repair Australia's environment. Using the best available science and expert advice, they identified 24 actions worth A$7.3 billion each year over 30 years, which could repair much of the past two centuries of degradation. This investment amounts to about 0.3% of Australia’s gross domestic product. In reality, the Blueprint shows that it is possible to undo 200 years of poor land management at a continental scale. I truly hope that the Australian Government adopts and implements the Blueprint - we need to ensure future generations of Australians can enjoy our most remarkable and unique biodiversity and landscapes as we have done. https://lnkd.in/gBHafNt3

Other countries are leading the way with urban greening, urban forestry and access to nature such as the USA with its inspiring inflation reduction act. The act looks to green areas with low canopy cover and high deprivation as it recognises that people who live in areas of low canopy and with limited access to nature die younger which is just not right. Meanwhile in Wales we are going in completely the opposite direction. Cutting key front line roles at our public visitors centre and the last remaining posts that promoted greening our cities as this is just not seen as core business for NRW! All this is going to do increase pressure and costs longer term in the Welsh NHS. NRW has always struggled to understand the need to green our urban environments and loosing educational roles previously means public engagement is going backwards. This should not be happening but perhaps this is an opportunity to look and see if this function should be moved into the Welsh NHS. We need to look at access to nature, greening an health in a different way. Research shows us that early interventions work and could ultimately save the Welsh NHS money in prescriptions. There is so much opportunity in Wales it's just being missed. Eluned Morgan. #UrbanForestry #PublicEngagement #HelpingCommunities #Healthoutcomes

The EU Nature Restoration law is a generation’s opportunity to take concrete and effective action to address the biodiversity and climate crises. Restoring EU land and sea areas at large scale are necessary conditions if we are serious about the long-term sustainability and viability of our society and economy. Belgian and European businesses and business associations, are calling for the Belgian Presidency of the Council to ensure an urgent adoption of the EU Nature Restoration Law, as agreed upon by the co-legislators in November 2023 and adopted by the European Parliament in February 2024. Read the letter and see signatories there: https://lnkd.in/eycsXPQ5 #RestoreNature #biodiversity

Ryan Riordan, Director of Research at the Institute for Sustainable Finance at Smith School of Business at Queen's University, highlights the immense worth of Canadian wetlands, estimating their natural services at over $200 billion annually. These services include clean air, pollination, water filtration, and carbon sequestration—essential contributions that nature provides us. In a recent conversation with host Nav Nanwa on CBC/Radio-Canada, Ryan discusses how the team uses satellite imagery and economic valuation techniques to break down the value of wetlands into dollar amounts, offering a clear picture of their economic importance. As Ryan explains, "The ISF hopes that by putting a number on this, it becomes easier for decision-makers to make informed policy decisions and harder for them to ignore the value of nature." Stay tuned for the Wetlands Report coming this week on our website, where we will delve deeper into these findings and their implications for sustainable finance and environmental conservation. Be sure to catch the conversation and keep an eye out for our upcoming Wetland Report! 🌎 Access the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/gqPzEccD #Wetlands #NaturalServices #Sustainability #ClimateAction #ISF #Research #CleanAir #WaterFiltration #CarbonSequestration #Pollination #SustainableFinance #ISF #QueensUniversity #WetlandReport #CBC