The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) released a report detailing the essential link between business and biodiversity, stressing that the very nature that supports corporate activities is being endangered by those same activities. This comprehensive report, compiled by researchers from 35 countries over three years, includes over 100 actionable recommendations for governments and financial institutions to avoid mutual collapse and enhance the relationship between businesses and the environment. Recognizing biodiversity as vital for supplying food, materials, and water, the report articulates how it mitigates damage from natural disasters and contributes to tourism and cultural values.

Despite the critical importance of biodiversity, the report notes a troubling trend where wealth generated through artificial capital—such as buildings and machinery—has doubled since 1992, while natural capital has declined by 40%. With approximately $7.3 trillion projected for harmful subsidies and investments in 2023, only about $220 billion is dedicated to conservation and restoration efforts, constituting a mere 3% of damaging funds. This disparity raises alarm regarding the undervaluation of nature's contributions to the economic and financial systems, highlighting the significant risks this poses to economic stability, financial systems, and human rights.

The report emphasizes that businesses can play a crucial role in the recovery of nature and restoring its benefits. The necessary paradigm shift requires businesses to acknowledge their impact and foster a restoration dialogue that integrates the value of natural capital into economic considerations effectively. By doing so, they can become pivotal stakeholders in conservation and ecology, aligning their operations with sustainable development goals and improving their long-term viability in an increasingly ecologically fragile world.