Signal 44 trillion dollars of economic value depends on nature

Summary

Citing the World Economic Forum, the report states that 44 trillion US dollars of economic value, more than half of global GDP, depends moderately or heavily on nature and the services it provides. That value is therefore exposed to the effects of biodiversity loss. The report holds that such loss affects the supply of raw materials including food, timber, cotton and plant-derived medicinal compounds. Essential ecosystem functions such as pollination, air and water purification, homeostasis and nutrient cycling are also at risk. In the UK, the loss could strike the economy, environment and culture through both supply chain disruption and direct domestic impacts. The report warns that undervaluing nature in markets and the collapse of fragile ecosystems could prove very expensive for the global economy.