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Suspended walking bridge in Costa Rica rainforest

Investing in nature makes more sense than ever

It is not easy to plan for the future during a pandemic or a recession. But this is 2020, and governments and businesses are working hard to navigate both challenges at once. As they do so, it is incredibly important they cast aside the notion that the environment is a tangential concern. The …
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Roundabout in the middle of a forest in Belgium. Circular road surrounded by trees

To build a resilient world, we must go circular. Here's how to do it

The best way to build resilience against future pandemics and the impact of climate change is to move to a circular economy. Doing so could address 45% of global greenhouse gas emissions and provide a $4.5 trillion economic opportunity. Here, the co-chairs of the Platform for Accelerating the…
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Photo from youth climate march in May 2019

Why I have high hopes for nature this Earth Day

COVID-19 has made the case for taking better care of the home we share Like many others, I began 2020 with high hopes. This was meant to be a year that would yield desperately-needed accords about biodiversity, oceans, and climate change, propelled by increasing awareness about the value of…
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Boats docked at a pier

We need a paradigm shift in economic thinking

In an interview with The Economist Group’s World Ocean Initiative, Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson of the GEF, calls for a fundamental rethink in our relationship with the environment to support a sustainable economy and social well-being. Please could you provide a brief overview of the Global…
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Cities can be innovation hubs for climate and nature

Instead of being seen as pressure points for the environment, cities could be planned as innovation hubs National governments must lead the move towards inclusive and sustainable cities, through initiatives such as carbon pricing and tax policies We are in the age of urbanization. For the first…
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Modern sustainable neighborhood in Almere, The Netherlands. The city heating in the district is partially powered by a solar panel island. Aerial view.

The world needs a circular economy. Help us make it happen

The circular economy could be a $4.5 trillion business opportunity. Only 9% of the global economy is circular at present. The Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy is helping to speed this transition. As policy-makers worldwide respond to a rising tide of climate activism and extreme…
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Cargo ships entering one of the busiest ports in the world, Singapore.

The next challenge for business: adapting to climate change

The private sector must begin preparing for climate change and the ensuing disruption to operations and services with new approaches The future success of the private sector may not only depend on how successfully it can mitigate, but also on how it can adapt to climate change. Extreme weather…
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Partnership model: some Japanese fishing communities benefited from responsible resourcing. Photo: Marco Scotto/Shutterstock.

We can turn the tragedy of the global commons into an opportunity

The global commons are being pushed to breaking point, so coalitions are forming to protect them and to build lasting prosperity My country, Japan, was long dependent on fishing. In the past, every fisherman in a coastal community would be tempted to catch as much as possible. When everyone did so…
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Logo for Paris Climate Agreement signing ceremony

Safeguarding the global commons is the wisest investment we can make

Scientists tell us that the biophysical processes that determine the stability and resilience of Earth, our “planetary boundaries” that allowed our societies to thrive during the past 10,000 years, are being pushed to their limit. Evidence is mounting that the miraculously, favorable Earth…

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