Nature constantly provides us with a huge range of vital resources such as food, energy and medicinal plants, as well as services such as water purification, carbon sequestration, pollination of food crops and opportunities for recreation. In economic terms, the resources and services provided by nature are known as natural capital.
The value of nature in monetary terms is enormous. The consulting firm BCG estimates (pdf) that the total value of ecosystem services alone exceeds USD 150,000,000,000,000 per year, which is twice the world’s GDP.
But we are consuming natural capital faster than it regenerates. This threatens not only nature but also the vital services we obtain from nature. We can still reverse this trend: we can stop biodiversity loss and curb the climate crisis.
The key to change is the sustainable management of natural capital. In practice, the value of nature must be made visible, and it must guide economic decision-making at state level, local government, and business level and in people’s everyday lives. This entails, for example, rewarding actions that strengthen nature and putting a price on measures that degrade it.
The sustainable management of natural capital requires that the ecological sustainability crisis is solved as a whole. This is why all the Nature and the Economy project activities aim to take account of biodiversity loss, the climate crisis and overconsumption of natural resources.
How will we achieve our aims?
We are looking for the most effective solutions for the management of natural capital in decision-making by national and local government and businesses. During the project, for example:
We will develop methods and tools to make the value of nature and the limits of its carrying capacity more clearly visible to decision-makers.
We will identify the best economic instruments for halting biodiversity loss and curbing the climate crisis, in other words for safeguarding natural capital.
In collaboration with businesses, we will test and develop indicators for measuring the impacts of business activities on nature and new business models that reduce pressures on nature and strengthen biodiversity.
We will bring together actors with the latest knowledge and practical experience of the sustainable management of natural capital. We are looking for a common vision and new, viable solutions.
Finland is not starting from scratch when it comes to safeguarding natural capital: people are increasingly starting to understand the severity of the situation. For example, in a collection of articles published in early spring 2023, key influencers in economics and society stressed that nature safeguards our well-being, health and economy.
Who is involved?
We are working with policy makers, government, pioneering companies, industry associations, local authorities and research institutes and others. The aim is to find solutions that are also of international interest. Send us a message if you’re interested!
Where are we now?
The project started in 2022 and will run until the end of 2025.
Publications
publications
Circular solutions for nature
publications
Effective nature work
publications
WCEF2023 Summary Report
publications
Putting nature at the heart of the European Green Deal
publications
Nature safeguards our economy
Events
Event
The European Green Deal 2.0 – Tackling the twin crisis of climate change and nature loss
Dubai, Saturday, Dec 09
watch live
live
watch recording
events
Finnish Finance Nature Summit: Driving a Nature-Positive Future
Helsinki, Monday, Nov 20
Invitation only
Panel discussion on the future of the European Single Market
Helsinki, Thursday, Sep 28
events
World Circular Economy Forum 2023
Helsinki, Tuesday – Friday, May 30 – Jun 02
Contact us!
people
Outi Haanperä
Project Director, Nature and the economy
people
Antti Koistinen
Specialist, Communications and Public Affairs
people
Tim Forslund
Specialist, Nature and the economy
people
Tuuli Hietaniemi
Senior Lead, Sustainability solutions
people
Marja Järvenpää
Senior Lead, Nature and the economy
people
Mariko Landström
Senior Lead, Nature and the economy
people
Tatu Leinonen
Specialist, Nature and the economy
people
Jarrod Luxton
Senior Lead, Nature and the economy
people
Samuli Puroila
Specialist, Nature and the economy
people
Ilkka Räsänen
Senior Advisor, Sustainability solutions
people
Tuuli Salminen
Assistant, Investments & Nature and the Economy
people
Rasmus Sihvonen
Project Coordinator, Nature and the economy
people
Riku Sinervo
Senior Lead, Global collaboration, Sustainability solutions
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