Global Spending Priorities on Nature
The recent UN report highlights a stark contrast between spending to protect nature versus spending that harms it, underscoring the urgency for change.
Current Spending on Nature
- In 2023, the global expenditure for protecting nature was only $220 billion.
- Conversely, spending on activities that harm nature amounted to $7.3 trillion, which is 33 times more.
Role of the Private Sector
- The private sector is responsible for the majority of the $7.3 trillion nature-negative spending.
- It accounts for just 10% of the investment towards protecting and restoring nature.
UNEP's Perspective
Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP, emphasized the critical choice between investing in nature's destruction or its recovery. There is no middle ground.
Required Investments for Nature-Based Solutions (NbS)
- To fulfill commitments under the Rio Conventions on climate change, biodiversity, and desertification, global investments in NbS must increase to $571 billion by 2030.
- Harmful financial flows, such as $2.4 trillion in public subsidies for fossil fuels, agriculture, and water use need to be phased out.
Current Environmental State
The 2026 report aligns with the assessment that the world is experiencing an era of "global water bankruptcy."
