More than half of the world’s GDP – US$44 trillion – is at immediate risk due to nature loss. Fortunately, investing in nature allows us to not only mitigate future environmental catastrophes, it can generate over US$10 trillion in additional annual business opportunities and 395 million jobs by 2030. Prioritising Nature-based Solutions and a nature-positive future therefore has economic and social benefits that reach far past its ecological imperative. Yet, despite the strong economic case and the increasing number of financing commitments, the investment gap remains large. The private sector can and must play a leading role in addressing this challenge.
This White Paper authored by the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Nature-Based Solutions takes a practical look at the investment landscape for nature and Nature-based Solutions. In doing so, it charts out two complementary pathways: one for private-sector stakeholders to mainstream investments in nature that already demonstrate a positive business case, and another, for the private-sector to call on governments to create a fit-for-purpose enabling environment where financial returns are not yet in place.