business models that generate positive impacts for employees, communities and the natural environment within which businesses operate. In energy, food, mobility and resource use, there are already technologies, business models and markets emerging that operate this way. (see Section 4.1)


These business models are regenerative, seeking to contribute to creating positive impact for nature and people and to help address persistent ecological and social challenges in order to be profitable. They are collaborative, based on cooperation with diverse groups of stakeholders, to create social and ecological value, and they often support shared value creation, such as community or public goods and services. They are transformative, helping to shift context (policy); inspire new products, models and practices (business); improve awareness, understanding and impact (research); and change demand, preferences and ownership (consumers).


These business models are connected across geographies, leveraging digital technologies, knowledge networks and infrastructure to support innovation, learning and collaboration. Whether through brands, communities or goals, individual businesses identify with a community within which they create shared value propositions, identity and purpose seated in their local context.


A nature positive economy is translocal: globally connected through technology and markets and locally rooted in community and context. For example, the global market for new energy technologies and markets is empowering cities and communities to fuel their own energy transitions in housing and transport. This is not only happening in developed country contexts. In developing countries, examples include mobile apps to monetize and manage waste,


sustainable food practices and renewable buildings.**** These examples show how countries and companies are able to leapfrog [40] by developing nature positive models. [41],[42]


biomimicry approaches for wastewater treatment, [39]


or even lead,


This global push for sustainability transitions creates an enabling business environment for new types of entrepreneurship: for purpose-driven businesses that are committed to delivering positive impact for societal challenges. For most businesses, especially those with high dependency on natural resources and social capital—and whose costs are currently externalized— this new model presents an important challenge. For those that fail to adapt, survival is at stake. Amplified by a global pandemic, there is now a struggle for business survival and recovery. At the same time, there is an unmistakable global push to ‘build back better.’ [47] In this transformation, policy, business and society need to change the rules of the game – while they are playing it.


Figure 11: A vision of a nature-positive future


Resourcing growing cities while maintaining the nature that underpins them


Meeting climate goals while maintaining nature and nature‘s contributions to people


Feeding humanity without degrading nature or land


Maintaining freshwater for nature and humanity


Conserving and restoring nature while contributing positively to human well-being


Balancing food provision from oceans and coasts with nature protection


Adapt to Survive: Business transformation in a time of uncertainty


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