By Miles Richardson, Yves Hayaux Du Tilly and Carly Butler.

Many businesses are committing to zero carbon targets, and some have committed to becoming ‘nature positive’. This Zero Carbon: Max Nature strategy recognises the two key elements of the environmental crises, that is, biodiversity loss and climate warming. Global institutions such as the UN recognise that both these issues are caused by the failing human relationship with nature.

Every nation that meets the needs of its population does so through over consuming natural resources, by being in debt to nature. In 2020 the World Economic Forum’s Nature Risk Rising report noted that business as usual is no longer an option. The WEF 2022 insight report into transforming the relationship with nature in cities and subsequent Nature Positive city guidance (WEF, 2024) provides further recognition of the unsustainable imbalance between what we take from nature and what we give back to nature as a species.

Biodiversity loss is now one of the top global risks reported by business leaders in the next ten years, the top four risks are all environmental (WEF Global Risks Report 2024). More than half of the world’s GDP ($44 trillion) is moderately or highly dependent on nature or its services. Risks are both direct and indirect – from reliance on nature for business activities, to disruption of customers, markets, and regulations, through to societal disruption (WEF, Nature Risk Rising, 2020).

The loss of ecosystems does not only imply the need to change the way we live, but also the inevitable necessity to shift the manner in which we consume and exchange goods and services. The foregoing represents a systemic change with financial risk and substantial disruption to businesses that will face the challenge of shifting from doing business “as usual”. It is not until businesses understand the risk and problem they are facing that they will be able to identify the opportunities arising from the environmental crises, that will permit them not only to contribute to protect and restore nature but also to find their purpose as social and economic contributors. This can range from avoiding impacts on nature, to active recovery of the state of nature, to contributing to system-wide change.

There is a need for directors to understand the risks and business threats and to counter them by creating new ways of offering services and providing goods in a sustainable manner, that is, without compromising the possibility of continuing offering such services and providing such goods in the future, hence, generating the resilience created by undertaking business with nature. This is what being sustainable means.

We can no longer prioritise the dominant value of living from nature, whilst devaluing the importance of living with, in and as nature (IPBES). The overemphasis on living from nature has led to unsustainable use and abuse of natural resources, with catastrophic implications for the planet and all its inhabitants. We need to find more sustainable ways of living from nature, not doing so is not risky, it is catastrophic.  We must now live and do business with, in and as nature.

Economic growth has come at nature’s expense. Yet the loss of nature is the biggest threat to ambitions for economic growth, and to a liveable planet. For a sustainable future, economic functions need to be integrated with social and ecological functions – where cities are living systems and all their elements, such as their economy, governance, infrastructure, and wellbeing function in and as nature, becoming nature positive.

The need for sustainable and nature-positive business brings opportunities. The WEF reports aim to support businesses and cities living in harmony with nature. Noting that innovative business models should restore or utilise healthy ecosystems, and need to replace business models where it is cheaper to destroy nature than to protect it. The WEF’s Future of Nature and Business report identifies dozens of emerging nature-positive business opportunities, which could generate up to $10 trillion, and create 395 million jobs by 2030.

The Stockholm+50 evidence review also outlines sustainable business models include scaling those that focus on services delivered, rather than products made, whenever possible. Supply chains should be better for both humans and the natural world. For workers and the consumer, a sustainable lifestyle should be an easy choice.

The adoption of sustainable business models and practices can contribute to restore the human-nature relationship. Like most people living the current failing relationship with nature, many businesspeople will feel a separation from nature.

Since the scientific revolution and enlightenment, we’re schooled to think of a distinction between humans and nature coexisting in separate boxes, in both our thinking and in our actions, spending very little time in and with the rest of nature, for example.

However, recent research has shown that the loss of this bond with nature matters. Not only for the wellbeing of the natural world through exploitation and reduced pro-environmental behaviours, but the wellbeing of people. A closer relationship with nature helps people feel good and feel they are living a meaningful life, not merely existing.

Equally, businesspeople who have a closer relationship with nature are more likely to support and champion the adoption of sustainable and regenerative business models and practices. While facts and figures about the environmental crises and the risks of nature on business and the economy may scare us into action, having an emotional connection with nature and appreciation of the interconnectedness of human and planetary wellbeing are key drivers for change.

Within a business setting, people with purpose and who feel good are an asset in themselves but will also support nature positive business direction. A close relationship with nature can also be key in developing a sense of place – successful businesses often have a home its staff and customers care about.

Finally, a sense of interconnectedness and appreciation of interrelationships is good for systems thinking, a foundation for successful decision making. People who live closer to nature tend to be better at more complex systems thinking.

Being nature positive is aligned with the fair distribution of abundance which is a characteristic trait of nature. The centuries old industrial mindset of living from and exploiting nature presents the greatest threat for humankind and represents an existential risk. There are new opportunities for growth of sustainable business models that allow us to live and do business with, in and as nature.

The new Nature’s Workforce initiative that grew from the Save Our Wild Isles films offers activities, resources and guides for employees to help their workplace be a force for nature, with suggestions on how to start conversations about nature and business. Last year we launched a resource to help businesses and other organisations move towards sustainability by a focus on improving relationships with nature: The Nature Connected Organisations Handbook: A guide for connecting organisations with nature for sustainable futures and workplace wellbeing. The handbook offers a framework for the growth of nature connection and guidance on auditing and developing practices. By growing nature connection amongst staff, designing structures and processes that support closer relationships with nature, and creating a culture that has a respect and care for nature at its heart, businesses can take action that protects and restores nature and human relationships with nature for sustainable futures.