“The science on nature loss is terrifying. Nature underpins everything on this planet. A New Deal for Nature and People in 2020 that brings transformative change to our relationship with our planet is absolutely critical. Business should be at the fore of calling for this change.”

— Alan Jope, CEO, Unilever

“We know a business of our scale must act on the issues that matter. Every business depends on and is fundamentally connected to the environment, so we have a responsibility to protect it. At Sky we have set our commitment to be net zero carbon by 2030 and we look forward to working together with governments and policy makers to build a supportive policy environment that helps all businesses understand the value of nature.”

— Jeremy Darroch, Group CEO, Sky

“Nature is at the heart of our social and economic prosperity. Business recognizes that we must protect, conserve and restore nature, to safeguard our communities, livelihoods, and economies. Having provided input, ICC supports the policy recommendations announced by the Business for Nature coalition to unite the private sector and develop collective solutions to transform our relationship with nature for the future of humanity.”

— John Denton, Secretary General, ICC

“Intact ecosystems and rich biodiversity are important sources of innovation and inspiration, making it the natural capital for Symrise. We have been dedicated to protecting biodiversity and natural habitats for many years and are actively collaborating with business partners, government and NGO's. The window to act and to bend the curve of biodiversity loss is small and requires a concerted action to achieve the 2030 goal of "no net loss" and the 2050 vision of "Living in Harmony with Nature". We therefore welcome and fully support the "Business for Nature" High-Level Policy Recommendations.”

— Dr. Heinz-Jürgen Bertram, CEO, Symrise

“Business depends on nature and must help stop the loss of biodiversity globally. These actions help benefit people, nature and the climate as well. While business is stepping up to help transform systems such as food and land, energy and the circular economy, it needs the targets, incentives and enabling conditions proposed by Business for Nature to scale up its efforts.”

— Diane Holdorf, Managing Director for Food & Nature, World Business Council on Sustainable Development (WBCSD)

“At Kering we believe that protecting and investing in our natural world is not only our responsibility but it just makes good business sense. If we do not transition to a global economy that embeds biodiversity and our world’s ecosystems into robust policies and decision-making we will not reverse the dangerous trajectory we are currently on.”

— Marie-Claire Daveu, Chief Sustainability Officer and Head of international institutional affairs, Kering

“Besides our moral responsibility to preserve Earth’s amazing diversity of life, there is another crucial reason to protect nature. People, businesses and economies can only flourish if we take care of our planet and invest in its health. Business leaders can play a critical role in helping reverse nature loss, and the Business for Nature policy recommendations demonstrate more clearly than ever that we need a New Deal for Nature and People in 2020. Governments must embrace the necessary ambition and take urgent action to address the twin planetary emergencies of climate change and nature loss.”

— Marco Lambertini, Director General, WWF International

“We believe that the transformative change needed to reverse nature loss, climate change and inequality cannot be achieved without proper incentives and financial mechanisms. That is why as a globally operating specialised food and agriculture bank, Rabobank wholeheartedly support this concerted effort to work in effective public-private partnership to protect nature as part of our mission.”

— Wiebe Draijer, CEO, Rabobank

“Businesses around the world know that by investing in nature they are safeguarding their future. Today’s call makes this clear. Both business leadership and ambitious policies are essential if we are to transition to a sustainable society. We must use the historic opportunities that 2020 offers us, including the IUCN World Conservation Congress in June, to make sure that our collective actions are a match for the biodiversity and climate crises the world is facing.”

— Dr Grethel Aguilar, Acting Director General, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

“As an agribusiness, the long-term success of our company and our sector relies on the nature and its ecosystem services. COFCO International is committed to meeting tomorrow’s demand for food in a responsible way, and conserving nature is a key element of our commitment. We support the Business for Nature coalition in its collective efforts to form a clear and strong business voice for nature conservation.”

— Wei Peng, Global Head of Sustainability, COFCO International

“The mountains, forests, rivers and seas, together with the grass and the trees, have nurtured countless lives on the earth. Protecting the ecological environment means protecting human beings ourselves. On the road to a better tomorrow enterprises need to adhere to green development, be diligent in thought and action, and shoulder the burden. We are looking forward to working together with Business for Nature to build a ‘Global Health Ecosystem’ and share a prosperous future.”

— Zhao Xin, Vice President, Yili Group

“I am excited to see the Business for Nature coalition bringing business leaders together to act and advocate for nature. Our entire economy is a subsidiary of nature. Business needs to come together now, as we did for the Paris Climate Summit, to ensure that we collectively protect that which makes our very existence possible.”

— Paul Polman, Chair, Imagine and International Chamber of Commerce

“The business message is clear. Policies that provide level playing fields and stable operating environments are essential to significantly scale-up and speed-up business action for climate and nature. UNEP-WCMC welcomes this clarity from Business for Nature and is working to equip governments and business with the tools and knowledge needed to implement solutions for the crisis facing nature and climate.”

— Neville Ash, Director, UNEP-WCMC

“2020 is the year for companies to seriously consider what the ecological crisis means for their business and take steps to transform their operations and strategies. These ‘New Deal for Nature’ policy recommendations are needed to accelerate business action towards a healthy natural world.”

— Dr Gemma Cranston, Director, CISL’s Business and Nature Team

“We have set Science Based Targets and are working towards our ambition to become fully circular and climate positive, but it is not enough. Biodiversity is key for the future of the planet. All actors need to take their responsibility seriously to drive the change needed. Companies need to commit and act, governments need to facilitate the process through ambitious laws and implementation thereof. It is only through collaboration that we will solve the challenges with the loss of nature we face today.”

— Karl-Johan Persson, CEO, H&M Group

“The window of opportunity to reverse nature loss is closing fast. Decisive action is needed to transform our economy into one that comprehends the environmental, societal and business value of protecting nature. Inaction is not an option.”

— Svein Tore Holsether, President and CEO, Yara International

“The planet cannot wait. At Nature & Co we strive to balance economic, environmental, and social goals across all aspects of society, and scale our collective efforts without delay to tackle the climate crisis. The responsibility is on all of us to work together to protect the world’s natural resources, and ultimately the well-being and future of our communities.”

— Roberto Marques, Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors and Group CEO, Natura &Co

“Businesses across the globe are increasingly recognising that a healthy natural world is not only a nice to have, but a critical asset which underpins their continued growth and success. Through these Policy Recommendations, the business community has set out what they believe is needed from the public sector. Central to these recommendations is the need to understand the value of nature, and to embed this value in the heart of decision making and disclosure. The capitals community has been working towards this end for some time and welcomes these recommendations.”

— Mark Gough, CEO, Natural Capital Coalition

“Policy makers have a critical role to play in the 2020 super year to create the enabling conditions to reverse nature loss by 2030. CDSB encourages policy makers to adopt Business for Nature’s five policy recommendations to scale up and accelerate the action needed to unlock new opportunities and build sustainable economies worldwide.”

— Mardi McBrien, Managing Director, Climate Disclosure Standards Board (CDSB)

"It is crucial to acknowledge that biodiversity cannot be preserved through protected areas only. To halt the loss of biodiversity, all economic sectors must take responsibility and look at the impact of their operations on biodiversity in their supply chain. We need stronger cooperation among businesses and policy makers to ensure a level playing-field for companies that are engaged, and for business to mainstream nature and biodiversity into their business models.”

— Dr. Stefanie Eichiner, Chairwoman, Biodiversity in Good Company

“Nature needs us just as much as we need Nature. We are part of it and it is part of us. As a multi-actor network, we are convinced that partnerships are key to solving the societal challenges we face. We need to act. This is why we need a strong framework: to indicate the right direction and create the needed level-playing field”

— Marie Delvaulx, Director, The Shift

“The coming decade offers an unprecedented opportunity for world leaders to take bold, decisive action to address the challenges of biodiversity decline and climate change. What’s more, 2020 will be disproportionately crucial in shaping the policies and international commitments that could set our world on a more sustainable path. Our own future is inextricably linked to those of the millions of other species who call Earth home – it’s our responsibility to act for Nature Now.”

— Sally Jewell, Interim CEO, The Nature Conservancy

“While solving climate change, nature and people have to be centre stage too, to ensure a prospering planet. It is like putting out a fire in a building: You want to extinguish the fire, but not flood the building. Otherwise you have put out the fire, but the building is uninhabitable nevertheless. Like our world would be.”

— Olmar Alber, CEO, oebu - Swiss Business Council for Sustainable Development

“The loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services is costing our economies trillions of dollars a year. Government and business must scale up action to protect and restore nature. Governments need to reform the financial support they provide that is harmful to biodiversity. Business also has a key role to play including by understanding its dependence and addressing its impact on biodiversity. These Business for Nature recommendations provide valuable guidance on how to implement transformative changes.”

— Rodolfo Lacy, Environment Director, OECD

“Bringing global organisations together to form a united voice on biodiversity is crucial if we are going to help businesses navigate a world under pressure. The consequences of allowing the die-off of nature are huge – and would impact not just on business but on our ability as a species to survive – and that’s why we are thrilled to add RSB’s voice and solutions to this urgent call for a new deal for nature in 2020 and beyond.”

— Rolf Hogan, Executive Director, The Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB)

“There is a need for coherence between the activities of the public administration and private sector. That is why it is crucial that governments have clear policies showing its support for preserving biodiversity and fighting climate change. The support from the government and predictability of legal regulations not only allows private companies to manage risks more effectively, but are also an important incentive for stronger engagement of business.”

— Marzena Strzelczak, General Director, Responsible Business Forum, Poland

“The IPBES Global Assessment Report made it clear that properly protecting nature’s contributions to people requires a globally sustainable economy. The necessary evolution of financial and economic systems can only be achieved in partnership with responsible decision-makers, in Government but also critically, with the private sector. IPBES therefore welcomes engagement and initiatives, such as these important policy recommendations from Business for Nature, as vital contributions to the growing wave of awareness and more ambitious action for biodiversity.”

— Dr Anne Larigauderie, Executive Secretary, IPBES