8. The journey is as important as the destination


Transformational change doesn’t happen overnight, and, as with any long journey, flexibility and patience will be crucial. Companies and their leaders will face pressure from boards and shareholders, for instance, to continue operating in the same old way. But this moment in time is unique. Current circumstances demonstrate how vulnerable the economic system is and how connected people are to each other and to the planet. This is the time for thinking longer term, for leadership and for action from all corners of society – but for business especially.


More on Nature Positive Approaches


The UN Sustainable Development Goals provide companies of all sizes and sectors with a comprehensive checklist of issues and priorities shared across governments, businesses and individuals. Various guides and resources, such as the SDG compass, have been developed to support business with their implementation. https://sdgcompass.org/


The Science Based Target Initiative mobilises and supports companies to set targets that cut greenhouse gas emissions in line with climate science. https://sciencebasedtargets.org/


Business for Nature is a global coalition bringing together organizations and forward-thinking businesses to demonstrate business action and call for governments to reverse nature loss. https://www.businessfornature.org/


The Natural Capital Coalition is a global coalition of organizations, including the Natural Capital Protocol, designed to help companies identify, measure and value their direct and indirect impacts and dependencies on natural capital. https://naturalcapitalcoalition.org/


The Certified B Corporations provide a comprehensive checklist for businesses to meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. https://bcorporation.net/


References A link to all of the references can be found here.


Glossary A link to the glossary can be found here.


Business leaders can expect terms like ‘maverick’ and ‘disruptor’ will emerge in polite conversation to describe early actors, but ‘perseverance’ might be the descriptor that you strive for internally. For business leaders who help bring about this nature positive world and whose businesses continue to thrive past critical thresholds coming our way by mid-century, people will be using words like ‘pioneer’ and ‘genius.’ Humanity is on this journey together because it is the current generation’s ‘moon shot,’ the defining moment, for many living today and for all future generations.


24 Adapt to Survive: Business transformation in a time of uncertainty


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