ARTICLE 7 Nature, the True Engine of Our Economy

ARTICLE 7

Nature, the True Engine of Our Economy

Article 7 – Nature, the True Engine of Our Economy calls for regenerative and innovative action in securing Natural Capital. Businesses must be aware of their impact on Nature and the amount of damage their operations are causing.

Global Picture

Research performed by the World Economic Forum and PwC shows that $44 trillion of economic value generation – more than half of the world’s total GDP – is moderately or highly dependent on nature and its services and is, therefore, exposed to risks associated with nature loss.

Despite the economy’s significant reliance on nature, human activity is degrading it at an unprecedented rate and scale. Since 1970, the rate of human extraction of natural resources has outstripped the Earth’s rate of regeneration, and to maintain the world’s current living standards with the current economic systems would require an estimated 1.7 Earths.

...the discussion on biodiversity and how to scale more innovative solutions is key to building momentum for more Nature-based opportunities. There are a number of existing proven technologies that can dramatically reduce waste and carbon emissions and it’s our job to bring them to scale.

Trevor Neilson, Co-Founder, CEO and Chairman, WasteFuel, speaking at COP15

Projects

The Natural Capital Investment Alliance has mobilised finance towards Natural Capital

The NCIA has set out plans to launch a range of close-ended and open-ended fund strategies with the collective target of mobilising $10bn towards natural capital themes by the end of 2022.

Over $1.1bn has been invested and a further $6.2bn is being raised to deploy across a diverse portfolio of companies and projects around the world

To find out more about the NCIA and its membership, click here.

SMI companies are recognising nature as a key component of their approach to sustainability

In 2022 SMI companies with combined revenue in excess of $1 trillion have made commitments to biodiversity, highlighting nature as a key part of their sustainability approach, whilst recognising there is more to be done.

Spotlight on: Desert Agricultural Transformation

Professor Yi Zhijian and his team are transforming desert surface into a mixture similar to soil and, once crops have rooted, the land becomes self-sustaining. The technique enables farmers to stay on their homeland and maintain a food supply for their family despite being threatened by desertification. The team is piloting the technique in China and, if they remain successful, the new technique could revolutionise and secure livelihoods in the most remote and poorest corners of the world.

Spotlight on: Marine Conservation Society

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) is a UK based not-for-profit organisation working with businesses, governments, and communities to clean and protect oceans since 1983.

in 2017, MCS partnered with the Glenmorangie Whisky Company to create the Dornoch Environmental Enhancement Project (DEEP) to restore the once-thriving habitat of oysters. In just a few short years, the project has led to the reintroduction of thousands of new oysters which are benefiting the local ecosystem and Scottish community.

To read more here:

About us | Marine Conservation Society (mcsuk.org)

Spotlight on: Ørsted and WWF

A pioneering new partnership between Ørsted and WWF has been formed, aiming to advance offshore wind deployment that enhances ocean biodiversity.

Spotlight on: McCain Foods

McCain Foods have launched a Regenerative Agriculture Framework, which includes the principles, priority practices, and thresholds to capture farmers’ progress on implementing Regenerative agriculture over time.