Slide 1

Nature

Health, economies, and future resilience all rest on the health of state’s biological diversity. Though business is beginning to acknowledge its value, nature is under severe threat. By 2030, the decline of vital ecosystem functions could strip $2.7 trillion from the global economy each year. No enterprise can flourish if the planet itself is failing.

The role of business must evolve— to understand their dependencies on nature, and their risk exposure so that the opportunities associated with a transition to a nature-positive economy becomes clear.

As a result, the NBI are working with business in the following projects:

Science Based Targets Network South African Outreach

Nature is the backbone of human well-being and the foundation for all economic activity. The intricate connection between nature and climate calls for unified, collective action to stabilize the climate, preserve freshwater resources, regenerate land, secure a healthy ocean, and protect biodiversity.

Science-based targets for nature, endorsed by civil society, provide a credible and prescriptive approach to achieve these goals. Targets set using the Science Based Targets Network’s methods are grounded in the best available science, outlining what businesses and cities must do to stay within Earth’s limits while addressing human needs.

Taskforce for Nature-related Financial Disclosures

In August 2023, the Banking Association of South Africa (BASA) was approached by the Taskforce for Nature-Related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) Secretariat to act as its convening partner for the TNFD Consultation Group in and for South Africa. Shortly thereafter it was recognised that while BASA would be a valuable convenor for South African financial institutions, the TNFD Consultation Group would also need a convenor for “real economy” organisations. This realisation led to the identification (and subsequent invitation) of the NBI to fulfil a co-convening role with BASA for the TNFD Consultation Group.

A Community of Practice work plan is in development
For more information on how to join the Consultation Group, please email garthb@nbi.org.za or yaseenl@banking.org.za