Nature and opportunities for the private sector

According to the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Global Risks Report 2024, four of the top five global risks are related to nature: extreme weather events, critical changes in earth systems, biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and natural resource scarcity.

Extractive and productive activities carried out without a focus on sustainability have caused the loss of nearly 70% of wild species worldwide since 1970, according to the WEF, with Latin America and the Caribbean being the most affected region. This crisis increases levels of social and economic inequality. The WEF also estimates that half of the world's GDP, $44 trillion, depends on nature's resources and ecosystem services. Their collapse could reduce global GDP by $2.7 trillion annually by 2030, triggering a devastating recession and exacerbating social inequality and security. For example, the loss of coastal habitats and coral reefs reduces the protection of coastal populations, increasing the risk of floods and hurricanes that threaten the lives and assets of between 100 and 300 million people, according to the Global Assessment of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services report (IPBES, 2019).  

However, this critical scenario also offers opportunities to develop solutions, and the private sector plays a crucial role in this transition. A leading example in Peru is the AJE group, a world leader in beverages, which with its Bio Amayu initiative conserves the Amazon. This project has benefited nearly 200 families and protects 30,000 hectares of forest, generating income for local communities through the purchase of more than 700 tons of superfruits since 2018. Another recent public policy contribution is Bill 2404/2021-CR, which seeks to promote private investment in conservation through the "healthy environment for taxes" mechanism, with the objective of promoting private investment in natural protected areas whose mission is forest conservation, in order to effectively protect the environment.

The COP16 on Biodiversity to be held in October in Colombia will bring together representatives from more than 190 countries, along with observer organizations, youth groups, civil society, and the private sector to discuss biodiversity conservation, sustainable use and equitable benefit sharing. This event underscores the importance of global collaboration in biodiversity protection, and represents a key opportunity for the private sector to continue to strengthen its commitment and action in favor of nature. 

The 2025-2030 period will be marked by new challenges for the conservation and regeneration of nature. We face a great challenge that demands immediate and decisive action, and the private sector must include the concepts of nature and biodiversity in its strategic plans, recognizing the value of its ecosystem services as the natural capital of its businesses.