Nature is at a tipping point. Businesses are calling on governments to adopt policies to reverse nature loss in this decade

Geneva, 21 September 2020: On the same day as the UN General Assembly adopted its 75th Declaration that recognizes the urgent need for Member States to act to protect our planet and build back better, more than 560 companies with combined revenue of USD $4 trillion –  including WBCSD members, EDF, Firmenich, Hitachi, IKEA, Microsoft, Natura & Co, Nestlé, Olam International, P&G, Unilever, Walmart – urge governments to adopt policies now to reverse nature loss in this decade through the following statement: “Healthy societies, resilient economies and thriving businesses rely on nature. Governments must adopt policies now to reverse nature loss in this decade.  Together let’s protect, restore and sustainably use our natural resources.”

Business for Nature’s Call to Action is the first time so many businesses have stepped forward with the ambition of influencing discussions in the run up to delivering a Post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.  It follows recent and widespread calls from Conservation, Development and Humanitarian Organizations, Faith Groups, Cities, Indigenous Peoples and Youth groups for more ambitious action on nature to protect human and planetary health.

Now that the business community is showing such leadership, we’re hoping governments will hear this call and step up their ambition levels in the run up to Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) COP 15 scheduled to take place in 2021. 

It is exciting and unprecedented to see so many businesses urging for bold government action to reform nature policies. Many businesses are making commitments and taking action. But for us all to live well within the planet’s finite limits, we need to scale and speed up efforts now, not tomorrow. We need to see positive political ambition to address nature loss, climate change and inequality which will drive more even more action by business.

– Eva Zabey, Executive Director, Business for Nature

WBCSD congratulates Business for Nature in its great leadership and the many WBCSD members, as well as all the other companies, for their commitment as signatories to the Call to Action.  Loss of nature is increasingly impacting business performance. Consumers, stakeholders and governments expect business to take actions which halt the loss of nature.  WBCSD’s leadership is helping Business for Nature and other stakeholders by providing clear guidelines and practical advice on nature-based solutions.  Together we will drive action and ensure a collective business agenda that sparks systemic transformation

– Diane Holdorf, Managing Director Food & Nature, WBCSD

Read the press release for Business for Nature’s Call to Action signatories.

About Business for Nature and WBCSD

Business for Nature (BfN) is a global coalition calling for action to reverse nature loss and restore the planet’s vital natural systems. WBCSD is one of the founding partners and hosts BfN. Their policy recommendations have been launched in Davos 2020 and have been integrated into our briefing. 

WBCSD Nature Action work moves the focus to climate and nature, ensuring efforts to drive action across government, business and civil society, including the development of science-based targets and protocols for nature, business guidance, and collective action for consistent and credible nature-based solutions. We support members and engage and act directly on the fast-moving nature agenda.