世界经济论坛-自然与商业政策相伴的未来（英文）-2020.7-25页_2mb

Summary of The Future of Nature and Business Policy Companion

Core Content

This report, The Future of Nature and Business Policy Companion, outlines key policy recommendations for governments to integrate nature into economic recovery and long-term resilience strategies. It builds on the findings of the World Economic Forum's The Future of Nature and Business report, emphasizing the economic and social benefits of a nature-positive recovery, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. The report advocates for a "Great Reset" that prioritizes natural capital as a foundational asset for sustainable development, job creation, and societal well-being.

Main Recommendations

The report identifies three building blocks for a resilient economic recovery, which can be supported through targeted investments and policy measures:

1. Protect and Restore Natural Capital Assets

• Objective: Strengthen economic resilience by preserving and restoring natural capital, such as forests, wetlands, and marine ecosystems.
• Key Opportunities:
  • Invest in green urban infrastructure to enhance city resilience, reduce pollution, and create jobs.
  • Develop ecotourism infrastructure to preserve and grow the sector, which supports local livelihoods and biodiversity.
  • Promote large-scale ecosystem protection and restoration to mitigate climate risks and generate economic returns.
• Economic Impact:
  • Every $1 invested in mangrove conservation yields $3 in benefits, with conservation providing an 88:1 return.
  • Restoring degraded forests can generate up to $30 in benefits for every $1 invested.
  • Expanding protected areas to 30% of the planet is projected to yield $250 billion in annual economic output and $350 billion in non-monetized benefits by 2050.

2. Enhance Resource Productivity

• Objective: Improve the efficiency of natural resource use to reduce waste, enhance economic resilience, and lower environmental impact.
• Key Opportunities:
  • Develop circular business models to decouple economic growth from natural resource depletion.
  • Encourage resource-efficient food systems through improved logistics, reduced food loss, and shifts towards less resource-intensive diets.
• Economic Impact:
  • The circular economy could generate over $2 trillion in value by 2030 across key sectors.
  • Improving food logistics infrastructure could create 6 million jobs globally by 2030.
  • Shifting to plant-based, insect-based, and lab-grown protein alternatives could offer 30 million new jobs by 2030.

3. Scale Regenerative Value Chains

• Objective: Support regenerative industries that restore natural capital and provide long-term economic benefits.
• Key Opportunities:
  • Accelerate the transition to regenerative agriculture through innovative financial models and incentives.
  • Scale regenerative fisheries by investing in sustainable aquaculture and protecting marine ecosystems.
  • Promote regenerative forest business models to enhance livelihoods and protect biodiversity.
• Economic Impact:
  • Regenerative agriculture could create 200 million full-time jobs by 2050.
  • Regenerative fisheries could provide six times more food than current levels, with mariculture playing a central role.
  • Forest-based industries contribute $450 billion annually to global economies and could be revitalized through payment for ecosystem services and improved land-use planning.

Policy Enablers

To unlock the full potential of these opportunities, the report highlights the need for policy enablers that drive systemic change:

• Measuring the right things: Shift from GDP to metrics that reflect natural capital and well-being.
• Spatial planning: Manage marine and terrestrial assets effectively to support sustainable development.
• Incentive reform: Align market incentives to value nature appropriately, such as through payments for ecosystem services and reforming agricultural subsidies.
• Public-private collaboration: Leverage private-sector innovation and investment through supportive frameworks.
• Human capital development: Invest in education and reskilling to prepare the workforce for new, nature-based jobs.
• Catalytic public finance: Use public funds to stimulate private investment in regenerative and sustainable practices.

Key Takeaways

• Nature is not just an environmental concern but a foundational economic asset that supports job creation, public health, and resilience.
• The right stimulus investments in nature-positive opportunities can drive a long-term transformation towards a sustainable and equitable economy.
• Immediate action is required to prevent further depletion of natural capital and to avoid economic risks from climate change and biodiversity loss.
• Global cooperation and policy innovation are essential to ensure that nature is protected, restored, and sustainably managed as part of the post-pandemic recovery.

Conclusion

The report argues that the current moment presents a unique opportunity for policy-makers to reset the socioeconomic system in favor of a nature-positive economy. By integrating nature into recovery efforts, governments can create jobs, reduce economic risks, and build a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable future. The economic benefits of such a shift are substantial, and the time to act is now.