A dire warning has been issued to businesses: protect nature or face extinction. This is the stark reality presented by a major report from Ipbes, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. With contributions from leading scientists and approval from 150 governments, the report highlights the critical role businesses play in either preserving or destroying our natural world.
Nature's Extinction, Business's Extinction?
Co-author Matt Jones, from the UN World Conservation Monitoring Centre, puts it bluntly: "Businesses ultimately risk extinction... both of species in nature, but potentially also their own." This is a powerful reminder that the fate of businesses is intricately linked to the health of our planet.
The report reveals that all businesses, no matter their industry, rely on nature's free services - from clean water to fertile soils. Yet, the loss of biodiversity often seems more profitable to businesses in the short term, as Prof. Stephen Polasky, co-chair of the report, points out. This twisted reality is a major concern, especially given the serious threats biodiversity loss poses to businesses.
A Call to Action for Businesses
Leigh Morris, International Director of The Wildlife Trusts, emphasizes the need for clear metrics and toolkits to help businesses take responsibility for their impact on biodiversity. For many UK businesses, engaging with nature protection is no longer an option but a necessity. Morris adds, "For many UK businesses, engaging with nature protection has gone from 'a nice-to-do' to a 'must-do'."
One inspiring example is Steart Marshes in Somerset, where farmers and conservationists are working together to support both wildlife and agriculture. By grazing cattle across the marshes, they create healthy habitats for birds, insects, and plants, while also producing high-quality beef. Local farmer Andy Darch explains, "They [the cattle] are eating different types of grasses and trampling areas that are important for wildlife... it produces a really high-quality beef."
Steart Marshes also showcases how restoring nature benefits local communities. Newly engineered flood banks protect nearby villages, while the wetlands absorb carbon and reduce pollution. Alys Laver from the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust says, "Not only are those flood banks an engineering marvel, they're providing flood protection for the local villages... it's not a loss of farming, it's just a change."
The Daily Drivers of Nature's Decline
The report identifies everyday incentives that are driving nature's decline, including large subsidies that damage biodiversity and are fueled by business and trade association lobbying. It also highlights the confusion and lack of meaningful action on how businesses measure their impacts and reliance on nature.
"Better stewardship of nature is not a distant environmental issue but a core challenge for every boardroom," the report states. However, less than 1% of publicly reporting companies mention their impacts on biodiversity in their reports. This is a concerning statistic, indicating a lack of awareness or commitment to addressing this critical issue.
So, the question remains: Will businesses heed this warning and take action to protect nature, or will they continue down a path that may ultimately lead to their own extinction? The future of our planet and the businesses that depend on it hangs in the balance.
