Nature underpins the global economy. Yet today’s economic systems are putting enormous pressure on critical ecosystems. Driven by land and sea use change, overexploitation, climate change, pollution, and invasive species, nature loss is eroding biodiversity and threatening both human well-being and economic stability.
This report puts a price on those risks. It quantifies the financial impacts of ecosystem decline across eight key sectors, from food production and consumer goods retail to forestry and mining.
The findings are stark: under a business-as-usual path, the five key drivers of nature loss have the potential to cost these eight sectors up to $430 billion per year, globally. Left unchecked, these costs could add up to $2.15 trillion in just five years.
Inside this report:
Costs of nature loss: Breaks down the financial risks of ecosystem decline by driver—from climate change to overexploitation—and by type of ecosystem service, across the eight key sectors.
Sector risk profiles: Identifies priority areas for action by mapping which ecosystem service presents the greatest financial risks for each sector.
Investor engagement framework: Provides practical tools for financial institutions to assess exposure and engage portfolio companies on reducing nature-related risks and building resilience.
Acting now to protect and restore ecosystems is far less costly than adapting later. For companies and investors, delaying action only compounds operational, financial, and legal risks.