A Paradigm Shift Toward Nature-Positive Economics: Reimagining Our Relationship with the Living World
From the bouquet of cut flowers adorning our tables to the timber that frames our homes, from fish harvested from oceans to meat serving on our plates, humanity’s interaction with nature has been dominated by the consumption of the natural world only after it is no longer alive. This stark reality exposes a fundamental flaw embedded within modern economic and cultural systems: nature’s value is predominantly recognized at the point of its destruction rather than in its living state. A global consortium of experts have issued a clarion call for a transformative reevaluation of economic mechanisms and societal mindsets to champion the intrinsic and functional worth of living ecosystems, positing that such a shift is essential to halting, and ultimately reversing, the widespread degradation of our planet.
Central to this discourse is the forthcoming publication entitled Becoming Nature Positive, co-authored by a distinguished group of interdisciplinary advocates who bring expertise spanning conservation, economics, governance, and social sciences. The book critically examines the systemic “market failures” that have allowed the living natural world to be systematically undervalued—and as a direct consequence, generously exploited. At the helm of this initiative is Marco Lambertini, convener of the Nature Positive Initiative, which unites 27 prominent conservation organizations and leading corporate and financial actors to redefine humanity’s economic relationship with nature.
The concept of being ‘Nature Positive’ embodies an ambitious vision: by 2030, the global community should achieve a measurable increase in natural capital compared to 2020, setting the trajectory for ongoing restoration beyond this milestone. This goal aligns with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework endorsed by nearly every country in 2022, which underscores biodiversity’s critical role in sustaining planetary health. Attaining this vision necessitates profound cultural and intellectual transformations, as the authors argue. Humanity stands at a crossroads—the tipping point where the mismanagement of ecological limits threatens to derail the life-support systems underpinning economies, societies, and biosphere stability.
A pivotal insight articulated by Lambertini encapsulates the core problem afflicting current economic paradigms: living components of nature are essentially invisible in market transactions until their utility is extracted through destruction. Trees, for example, accrue financial value only when felled for timber, despite their vital role in carbon sequestration, hydrological regulation, and soil preservation. Similarly, fish are commodified solely at the moment of catch, discounting their ongoing contributions to aquatic ecosystem health and resilience. Water, the foundation of all terrestrial life, is monetized post-extraction and pollution, neglecting its indispensable ecosystem services. Even flowers transition from ecological actors in wild habitats to mere economic goods after being harvested for ornamental purposes, with intrinsic ecological values remaining unmeasured and unrecognized.
This systemic failure to internalize the value of living nature into economic considerations has precipitated widespread ecological decline. The authors contend that such neglect is not merely an environmental concern but an economic and social crisis in the making. As ecosystem services deteriorate, the feedback loops impair not only biodiversity but also economic productivity, human health, and social wellbeing. Recognizing nature as a foundational asset requires reimagining the metrics by which economies assess growth and prosperity.
The proponents of this vision argue for a fundamental “great transition” toward an economic framework that places nature at the core. This shift implicitly critiques the dominance of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as an incomplete indicator of human progress, proposing the adoption of Gross Ecosystem Product (GEP) metrics instead. GEP would integrate the quantifiable economic value of ecosystem services alongside traditional financial indicators, providing a more holistic and sustainable measure of societal wellbeing. This approach acknowledges that the continued degradation of natural capital exacts hidden costs currently externalized in mainstream economic accounting.
The pathway toward a nature-positive future also involves profound shifts in societal narratives and behaviors. The authors highlight the importance of coordinated communication strategies that link biodiversity conservation explicitly to human health and livelihoods, thereby fostering broader public engagement. Indigenous knowledge systems offer invaluable lessons in living sustainably with nature, showcasing centuries-old models of stewardship that prioritize interconnectedness and regeneration. Furthermore, harnessing individual and collective self-interest through innovative incentives and cultural change strategies is seen as instrumental in catalyzing widespread pro-environmental actions.
Transformational leadership within business, finance, and policymaking spheres emerges as a critical node for effecting systemic change. The authors caution against complacency among corporate actors, emphasizing the urgency for immediate engagement with nature-positive strategies. Delaying action until regulatory or market frameworks fully mature risks irreversible environmental damage. As Eva Zabey of Business for Nature asserts, the window for decisive and meaningful intervention is rapidly closing—it is unequivocally ‘now for nature.’ From the financial perspective, Dorothy Maseke advocates for robust regulatory environments combined with transparent taxonomy systems to underpin sustainable investment and accountability.
Perhaps most strikingly, Lambertini underscores both the capabilities and the perils entwined within humanity’s current epoch. Technological advances, intellectual resources, and financial capital exist in abundance to navigate the ecological crisis; yet, “the greatest threat” lies in the abdication of responsibility—assuming that others will shoulder the burden of safeguarding Earth’s life support systems. This misplaced optimism could hasten ecological destabilization with profound, irrevocable consequences for all inhabitants of the planet.
Becoming Nature Positive is enriched by a broad coalition of voices that span disciplinary and geographic boundaries, including scientific experts like Dr. Joseph W. Bull, societal perspectives from Leroy Little Bear and Harvey Locke, and governance insights from Carlos Manuel Rodríguez. These diverse perspectives converge to delineate a comprehensive blueprint for integrating science, societal values, finance, business strategies, and governance structures into a cohesive movement aimed at restoring and enhancing global biodiversity.
Contributions from leading thinkers such as Johan Rockström, an authority on planetary boundaries, and policy strategists like Akanksha Khatri, highlight the multifaceted nature of the challenges and the necessity for cross-sectoral collaboration. The synthesis presented reveals a global landscape in which multi-layered interventions must be synchronized: scientific understanding must inform policy; financial systems need restructuring to account for ecological risk and value; businesses must align practices with regenerative principles; and citizens require empowerment to participate meaningfully in conservation initiatives.
This comprehensive and integrative approach encapsulates the essence of the Nature Positive Initiative’s mission. Through the lens of interdisciplinary scholarship and pragmatic action, the book advocates not merely for conservation as a peripheral concern but as an existential necessity vital to the fabric of economy, society, and culture. In embracing this challenge, humanity has the potential to catalyze a decisive “great awakening,” transforming environmental loss into a regenerative era of coexistence and prosperity.
As the clock ticks on the accelerating loss of biodiversity and ecosystem integrity, the clarion call issued by Becoming Nature Positive is clear: the time for systemic change is now. By embedding the living natural world back into the core of economic valuation, governance frameworks, and cultural narratives, we can chart a pathway toward a resilient and thriving Earth—one where nature is not merely a resource to be consumed, but a foundational partner in sustaining life and well-being for generations to come.
Subject of Research: Environmental economics, biodiversity conservation, systemic ecological valuation, sustainable development
Article Title: Becoming Nature Positive: Reframing Economics to Restore the Living Planet
News Publication Date: Not specified in the source content
Web References:
- Book Information: https://www.routledge.com/Becoming-Nature-Positive-Transitioning-to-a-Safe-and-Just-Future/Lambertini-Bull-LittleBear-Locke-Zabey-Maseke-Rodriguez/p/book/9781032754536
- Nature Positive Initiative: https://www.naturepositive.org/
- DOI Link: http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781003474043
References: Information drawn from the upcoming book Becoming Nature Positive and contributions by the Nature Positive Initiative
Keywords: Conservation policies, Science policy, Nature-positive economics, Biodiversity valuation, Ecosystem services, Economic transition, Sustainability leadership
