1. Business at a time of transformation


The world is witnessing dramatic changes in the environment, in technology, in the economy and in society. ‘Business as usual’ is no longer acceptable, and the question is how long the world can continue pursuing consumption and growth predicated on ever-increasing efficiency. The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified concerns about the highly interconnected and vulnerable state of the global economy, the relationship with nature and the prospects for each living being on this planet, including people, to survive and to thrive.


This concern is not new. For decades, science has pointed out the problems associated with material, linear, fossil-fuel-based economic growth. The overwhelming evidence from the GEO-6 report, published in 2019, [2]


is that human beings are


already putting people’s survival at risk. Not only are we driving catastrophic climate change and increasing pollution, but we are also driving an unprecedented loss of biodiversity, the rich variety of life that is essential for the stability and resilience of all ecosystems. This scientific consensus has also been translated into high level political commitments, including the Paris Agreement, leading up to a Global Deal for Nature and the Business Ambition for 1.5°C.


Despite recent progress and growing momentum, the global community, including business and governments, has failed to take the transformative actions necessary for human survival. Dominant responses remain focused on the pursuit of short term financial and economic recovery, and growth as a driver for progress, even if this growth comes at the expense of the planet’s natural resources and long-term well-being. With this well-being now


dramatically and perhaps irreversibly undermined, there is need to question the thinking and systems that got the world to this point. It is clear that a resilient economy must be one that prioritizes and supports the well-being of nature and people.


The brief will show later how communities, countries and businesses around the world have been exploring and developing nature positive models in energy, food, transport and resources.


This emerging movement is a source of hope and inspiration, as it might help guide business toward a new type of economy. But for businesses stuck in conventional economic thinking and locked into linear, fossil-fuel-based practices, this transformative change towards a positive relationship with nature poses existential challenges.


To navigate and survive the coming decades of transformative change, every business will need to harness all the ingenuity, creativity and imagination they can muster. We will need CEOs and entrepreneurs to steer the economy and their businesses away from relying on the exploitation of nature and people and towards a new model of prosperity, based on green and regenerative principles. It is time for leaders in business to overhaul their purpose, plans and strategies for this new context and explore different futures, engage with new partners and create space for experimentation. With so much at stake, clinging to business-as-usual is not just risky, but a narrow and irresponsible approach. The only way to prepare for the future is to explore how companies can take on a nature positive approach, starting today.


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


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