More animals and plants are under threat today than at any time in human history. Increased land use, exploitation, climate change and pollution have had a major negative impact on the ecosystem services on which we humans depend. This is according to the State of the World's Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services report presented yesterday by IPBES.
- Changing business models can turn risk into opportunity, says Anders Enetjärn, CEO of Ecogain.
"Business as usual" entails major risks
A key message from IPBES is that we need to change the way we do business and use the Earth's resources to create sustainable development. 'Business as usual' is far too risky a path to take.
- Every business model depends in one way or another on natural resources, and now the risks for business are starting to grow. I would say that the most important messages from this report are that it's not too late, that we need to act quickly, and that we need to apply the solutions we already have. We simply have to act," says Anders Enetjärn, CEO of Ecogain, with extensive experience in sustainable business, ecology, biology and law in complex issues and projects in sustainable land use and exploitation of nature, as well as studies on species and ecosystems.
Businesses play a crucial role
The IPBES report is produced by leading scientists from around the world who have compiled thousands of studies to provide a comprehensive picture of the state of nature. A state that now requires action, not least from businesses.
- Business can no longer wait for political decisions when the risks to business start to grow. Without sufficient action, our economy, food production, health and quality of life will be affected worldwide. The company that changes its business model can turn risk into opportunity. I am therefore pleased to see more and more companies setting biodiversity targets and strategies, reducing their footprints, restoring nature and applying ecological offsets. Biodiversity is a business issue," says Anders.
Ecogain experts choose to highlight five facts from the IPBES report
- The main driver of biodiversity loss is land use change, resulting in a 47% reduction in natural ecosystems compared to their original distribution.
- 14 of the 18 ecosystem services that underpin human well-being on Earth have declined.
- 25% of species in most animal and plant groups are threatened with extinction, while the biomass of wild mammals has declined by 82% since 1970.
- Current negative trends in biodiversity and ecosystem services will undermine the success of global goals on poverty, hunger, health, water, cities, climate, oceans and land (UN Global Goals 1, 2, 3, 5, 11, 13, 14, 15).
- Nature can be protected, restored and sustainably used in parallel with the achievement of other global societal goals, through urgent and coordinated transformative action.