THE CHALLENGE
Humans have become ‘the new force of nature’, where we are now the dominant force affecting our planet.
Since the beginning of the 20th century there has been significant economic growth due to the tenacity of the human endeavour. This has been translated into vast improvements in human health and well-being. The central role which natural capital assets and ecosystems services have played in ensuring this growth has largely gone unnoticed and disregarded, with the true value of nature discounted by the externalisation of internal costs. We have decoupled ourselves and our activities from the physical world which supports us.
We have come to realise that humans and nature are interdependent and hyperconnected with the ability to significantly shape the planet. Restrained by the 'quadruple squeeze' of population and development pressure conflict, with the climate and biodiversity (ecosystem) crisis, we dangerously run the risk of crossing the Earth's systems tipping points. There is a global realisation that we are busy exceeding the safe operating space for human wellbeing on many fronts, and that the impact of our activities are busy manifesting at home.
The current natural capital trajectory is as disconcerting as the plight to combat run-away climate change, with the current loss of 83% of wild animals, and 50% of plant diversity, and this trend is accelerating (WEF, 2020). Ecosystems have been significantly reduced in size, and ecosystem health has declined by 47% compared to global background rates (IPBES, 2019). The ecological and natural capital foundations which underpin our economies and well-being are at risk. Furthermore, recent developments in earth system science is illustrating the inextricable linkage between climate change and loss of nature. The scale and urgency of the dual crisis of climate change and biodiversity loss is clear. This, unsurprisingly has led to the WEF ranking global biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse under the top 5 global risks for 2021 (WEF, 2021).
The emergence of the Covid pandemic has intensified future uncertainty. Covid exposed the weaknesses and vulnerability in the global system; and humanities inability to respond to global shocks and ‘surprise’. This has led to a toxic cocktail of events and eventualities of which the outcomes for the human race do not bear a resemblance to, and for, our aspirations for a “better world for all”.
The multiplicity and interconnectedness of current day and emergent future events is causing sever angst in individuals, society and organisations alike. The risk is not linear, we need a step change. This is the decade for change.