ERM has joined more than 560 companies urging governments to adopt policies now to reverse nature loss in this decade.

Working alongside Business for Nature, the organizations with a combined revenues of US$ 4 trillion and including organizations such Walmart, Citigroup, Microsoft, JD.com, Hitachi, IKEA, Unilever, Axa, Mahindra Group and H&M, have issued 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.

More than 560 businesses from 54 countries, employing 9.5 million people and across all sectors are calling on governments to act with courage and urgency by putting nature front and centre of policymaking. Without doing so, we simply will not be able to meet the 1.5C climate target set out in the Paris Climate Agreement of 2015 or prevent a catastrophic loss of biodiversity. Businesses recognize that it is in their best interests.

Before COVID-19, the need to create more resilient economies and societies was clear, now it is inescapable. The natural resources and ecosystems that power businesses and underpin economies and communities are under huge strain and the potential for disruption to whole industries is significant. According to the World Economic Forum, industries highly dependent on nature generate 15% of global GDP ($13 trillion), while moderately dependent industries generate 37% ($31 trillion). Natural disasters linked to ecosystem degradation and climate change cost more than $300bn each year – while an estimated 40 to 60 percent of small businesses never reopen after such events.

Forward-thinking businesses are committing, acting and now advocating to reverse nature loss, but businesses cannot address this global crisis on their own. To accelerate action, businesses are calling on governments to work together and create a positive policy feedback-loop to spur more business action and ambition.

Eva Zabey, Executive Director, Business for Nature said: “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.

ERM CEO Keryn James commented:  “ERM’s purpose is to shape a sustainable future with the world's leading organizations. This call to action speaks to everything that we do as a business working with companies, business groups and other thought leaders who need and want to meet planetary and societal responsibilities and also meet the commercial expectations of their shareholders. This statement is an important demand as without significant change and ambitious policies on nature the future of our planet will remain under threat.”

The full list of signatories is now available on the Business for Nature website.

About Business for Nature
Business for Nature is a global coalition bringing together influential organizations and forward- thinking businesses. Together, we demonstrate business action and amplify a powerful business voice calling for governments to reverse nature loss. Learn more