Global Roadmap for a Nature-Positive Economy

• WWF publishes a Global Roadmap for a Nature-Positive Economy calling for reform of global financial and economic ’rules of the game’ to reverse nature loss
• Mounting evidence shows that the destruction of the natural environment poses significant threats to our economy, health, and ability to thrive on the planet
• Despite targets and goals set at national and global levels to reverse the pace and trajectory biodiversity loss, we continue to spiral on a downward path
• The COP16 nature summit next week will reaffirm government commitments to reverse this decline, but without economic reform, these goals are not achievable.
• The Roadmap lays out an agenda for how to align economic incentives and financial flows with nature-positive goals 

WWF is proud to launch the Global Roadmap for a Nature-Positive Economy, laying out an agenda for how to reform the economic rules of the game and build a nature-positive economy.

At present, the economy is driving the destruction of the environment. WWF’s Living Planet report found that wildlife populations have declined by 73% since 1970 and that we are approaching dangerous tipping points that pose significant threats to people and nature. Yet, we are struggling to tackle this challenge.

To reverse this trajectory, the world must address the underlying economic drivers of nature loss, which have created a global financial system built on unrelenting exploitation of the natural world — the Roadmap is a step to doing so.

Only by reforming global trade and capital markets can governments work toward increasing levels of nature over time and addressing the associated social and economic consequences of nature loss.

The 16^th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Colombia in October and the G20 Summit in Brazil in November, are major opportunities to address these issues. The G20 Brazil presidency has been vocal about reforming the international financial system for people, climate, and nature.

Currently, our economic systems – such as our trade policies and financial regulatory frameworks - do not address the market failures that permit the overexploitation of nature upon which we depend. Instead, they strongly incentivise environmentally damaging economic activities, like heavily polluting industrial activities, deforestation, the depletion of natural resources, and unsustainable fishing.

This has pushed our natural systems to breakdown, while in many cases exacerbating poverty and inequality.
“The Global Roadmap for a Nature-Positive Economy rises to the challenge, providing an agenda to drive the global-level changes needed for an equitable, resilient, and nature-positive future in line with the Global Biodiversity Framework,” Alice Ruhweza, senior director of policy influence and engagement for WWF International.

Five key pillars of reform

The Roadmap discusses five key pillars to guide actors, including:

• developing clear nature-positive transition pathways
• disclosing data and metrics
• shifting private capital
• reforming international development and financial institutions
• reshaping international trade frameworks and governance of the global commons.

By setting out an agenda for action, the Roadmap hopes to raise awareness, stimulate discussion among governments, regulators and financial institutions, and encourage action on transformation.

“The Roadmap takes a pragmatic approach to transformation, setting out an agenda for action,” Karen Ellis, chief economist of WWF-UK and contributing author to the Roadmap, says. “The world and its governments must act now to reshape the global rules of the game.”

WWF hopes to use COP16 as an opportunity to put the nature-positive economy at the forefront of the agenda, and raise awareness of the priority areas for action.

“If effectively implemented, this roadmap will have positive implications at the global and national levels,” Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, UN Special Envoy on Financing the 2030 Development Agenda, says. It will also have important benefits at the regional and local levels. Nature is often forgotten, despite half of our global economy depending on it.”

For further information, visit the main Roadmap page here

Additional Quotes of Support

H.E. Razan Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28 and Co-Chair of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), says:
It has never been clearer that we need a renewed economic model – one that no longer incentivizes the overexploitation of nature and instead prioritizes human well-being and ecological harmony. The Global Roadmap for a Nature-Positive Economy responds to this challenge by laying out a clear path to transform our economy into a force for restoring and sustaining nature which is essential to addressing the climate and biodiversity crises, and for delivering prosperity for people. We are seeing growing momentum from non-state actors demonstrating what true climate and nature action leadership looks like. This can be further accelerated through radical collaboration and ambitious policies and plans, as outlined in the Roadmap"
 
Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, UN Special Envoy on Financing the 2030 Development Agenda, says:
“Nature, climate and development are deeply interconnected, and recognizing the necessity of preserving nature to economic advancement and successful climate action, I am happy to be endorsing the WWF’s Nature Positive Economy Roadmap. If effectively implemented, this roadmap will have positive implications at the global and national levels. It will also have important benefits at the regional and local levels. Nature is often forgotten, despite half of our global economy depending on it. We still do not have a definitive framework for approaching the problem of nature and biodiversity loss similar to the Paris Agreement for GHG emissions. Addressing this problem will first require the efforts of scientists to identify the gaps and the time horizon to fix them. It will then require a strong governance framework to ensure alignment between stakeholders and states. Finally, it will necessitate adequate finance flows, which should be included in the ongoing discussions on the reform of the global financial architecture as well as the UN initiative on ‘Beyond GDP’. Integrating nature and its finance within our rapidly evolving economic landscape will benefit economy, society and environment alike, and I am happy to endorse the World Wildlife Fund as one of the most dynamic entities raising the awareness on the indispensable role of nature.”
 
Adonai Herrera-Martinez, Director, Environment and Sustainability for European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), says:
“The state of nature is at a critical juncture. Halting and reversing the biodiversity loss crisis requires changes in unsustainable economic models, and energetic action to align activities with nature recovery pathways. This Global Roadmap for a Nature-Positive Economy should be welcomed by Financial Institutions and other major economic actors, as it highlights key pillars to enable this transition to a global nature positive economy. Lack of action will be far more costly for our societies and for the planet.”
 
Alice Ruhweza, Senior Director of Policy Influencer and Engagement for WWF International, says:
“Global economic forces continue to drive biodiversity loss, with nature-rich developing countries facing some of the greatest constraints. A nature-positive economy not only calls for investments in nature but also demands the transformation of systemic conditions that shape those investments, so that nature-rich countries and local communities and indigenous people who are natures’ stewards have the capacity and space to drive the transition. The Global Roadmap for a Nature-Positive Economy rises to the challenge, providing an agenda to drive the global-level changes needed for an equitable, resilient, and nature-positive future in line with the Global Biodiversity Framework.”
 
Dorothy Maseke, Head of Secretariat for African Natural Capital Alliance, says:
“The Nature Roadmap by WWF offers a strategic framework that recognizes the intrinsic value of our natural capital. It calls upon us, across sectors, to leverage innovative financial solutions and bold leadership to protect nature and biodiversity as a means towards resilient economies. At the African Natural Capital Alliance, we are committed to embedding nature into the core of strategy and decision-making, understanding that true prosperity is achieved when nature flourishes alongside our communities and economies.”
 
Karen Ellis, Chief Economist of WWF-UK, says:
“The Roadmap takes a pragmatic approach to transformation, setting out an agenda for action. The world and its governments must act now to reshape the global rules of the game. The status quo in our global economy is driving the devastation of nature. By taking action now, we can seek to create a nature positive economy that secures our future on this planet.”