Introduction

This report presents the outcomes of the Economics for Nature (E4N) global partnership, which worked over six years to promote system-wide changes integrating natural capital into economic decision-making. The partnership highlighted the economic dependence on nature and called for the protection, restoration, and investment in ecosystems to support future global prosperity.

Insights and lessons from the ground

The report outlines five critical lessons from the E4N partnership:

Lesson 1: Valuing natural capital, although controversial, has mainstreamed nature’s value into business and financial decision-making. Organisations and policymakers increasingly recognise the economic impacts of nature loss.

Lesson 2: Radical collaboration is required across sectors to integrate natural capital approaches effectively. Political awareness and knowledge sharing are crucial to ensuring policies reflect nature’s importance.

Lesson 3: There is no single solution for transitioning to a green economy. Success depends on the political and economic context of each region.

Lesson 4: There is no agreed global definition of a successful economy that values both nature and people. Achieving such consensus would drive changes in business actions, investment strategies, and policy.

Lesson 5: There are stark differences in how richer and developing countries integrate natural capital into decision-making. Many developing countries face economic challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, requiring innovative financial strategies to incorporate nature’s value.

Next frontiers: creating transformative change in our economies to protect nature

The report identifies four key frontiers for advancing nature-positive economies:

Frontier 1: People must be at the centre of nature-positive economies. Inclusive decision-making is essential for long-term success, particularly involving Indigenous peoples and local communities.

Frontier 2: Natural capital approaches, tools, and frameworks must be institutionalised and mainstreamed across public and private sectors. This includes natural capital accounting frameworks and green taxonomies.

Frontier 3: Systemic economic reform is necessary to ensure regulations, incentives, and funding support nature-positive economies. Cultural norms and behaviours must also shift to value nature and social equity.

Frontier 4: Nature-based solutions (NbS) should be prioritised to build climate-resilient and nature-positive economies. Investments in biodiversity restoration and green jobs are vital for achieving these solutions.

Key outputs and outcomes

The E4N collaboration delivered tools, frameworks, and connections to support nature-positive economies. Key outputs include:

Methods and tools: Development of decision-making tools like the Green Economy Tracker and educational resources like the Capitals Coalition’s Coursera course on valuing nature.

Connections: Establishment of global networks like the Natural Capital Expert Working Group and Business for Nature, mobilising stakeholders to advocate for nature-positive policies.

Best practices: A collection of case studies and successful applications of natural capital approaches, such as WWF France’s Natural Capital Toolkit.

Recommendations

The report stresses the need for continued investment in natural capital and the adoption of systemic reforms to make nature-positive outcomes central to economic policy. It also highlights the role of financial institutions in embedding natural capital into risk management and decision-making processes.