Business Action on Climate and Nature

The urgency to act on the intertwined crises of climate change and nature loss has never been higher.

With over half the world’s GDP dependent on nature and its services, the private sector has a critical role in transforming business models to thrive within planetary boundaries.

Leading companies are adopting strategies to take integrated action on climate and nature — and tackling the related challenges of land degradation, food and water insecurity and social inequality.

This page features the journeys and insights on integrated action from a diverse group of businesses, conveyed through case studies. Together, they demonstrate how business can help lead the transition to an equitable, net-zero and nature-positive global economy.

Read the executive summary

Business Case Studies on Integrated Climate & Nature Action

The following case studies reflect insights from business leaders who are charting the paths of integrated action on climate and nature. They are by no means comprehensive, rather providing a ‘behind-the-scenes' snapshot of these journeys.

Case study

BNP Paribas

Finance, Banking | Europe, France

The financial sector has a major role to play in the transition to a more sustainable economy.

BNP Paribas has adhered to a long-term commitment to climate strategy and has recognized the need for comprehensive biodiversity action.

Cemex

Building materials, Extractives | Latin America, Mexico

The global challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss have increased constraints on resources for the cement industry.

CEMEX is dedicated to creating a sustainable future by addressing environmental challenges and meeting, or exceeding, stakeholder expectations.

H&M Group

Fashion, Apparel | Europe, Sweden

Fashion leaders face massive sustainability challenges in terms of mitigating impacts and addressing dependencies on natural capital assets including climate, water and biodiversity.

H&M Group has set ambitious targets to become a 100% circular and climate-positive company and aims to have a net-positive impact on biodiversity.

International Paper

Forestry, Pulp & Paper | North America, USA

Paper and packaging companies rely on the ecosystem services of forests owned by suppliers across the world.

International Paper is committed to advancing forest conservation while protecting the livelihoods of its suppliers, as well as demonstrating that paper companies can make products without causing deforestation.

Jayanti

Food systems, Agriculture | South Asia, India

The food production industry has an integral role in addressing the risks that the global crises of rising temperatures and biodiversity loss pose to ecosystems and livelihoods.

Through backward integration programs at its plantations in Asia and Europe, Jayanti guarantees food safety, authenticity, sustainability and traceability from farm to fork.

Mahindra & Mahindra

Industrial Goods, Mobility Products | South Asia, India

The automotive industry must consider not only operational environmental impacts, but also the impacts of the use of its products.

Mahindra & Mahindra is committed to becoming carbon-neutral, zero-landfill, water-positive and pro-biodiversity.

Solvay

Industrial Goods, Chemicals | Europe, Brussels

Production of speciality chemicals and advanced materials depends on the transport and use of raw materials sourced from suppliers around the world.

Solvay recognizes the potential for its innovative products to empower customers’ sustainability journeys while generating revenue.

Suzano

Forestry, Pulp + Paper | Latin America, Brazil

Sustainable production of pulp & paper depends upon natural cycles and local community relationships.

Suzano’s climate and nature efforts are inextricably linked and work in tandem to support the company’s environmental targets, bolstered by the company’s comprehensive stakeholder engagement strategy.

Unilever

Consumer Goods, Food Systems | Europe, UK

Consumer goods supply chains have a sizeable footprint in the forests, land and agriculture sector, presenting both risks and opportunities related to biodiversity, nature and climate change.

Unilever is committed to securing deforestation-free supply chains for key commodities, protecting and regenerating critical landscapes, and achieving net-zero emissions across its product portfolio.

In April 2021, leading business coalitions We Mean Business and Business for Nature convened a dialogue to address the interconnectedness of climate and nature policy ambitions. Together with a number of partners, they developed a set of integrated policy recommendations and identified an opportunity to make integrated action more tangible with real-life examples.

The case studies presented here are the result of these efforts, led in collaboration with the following organizations (displayed in alphabetical order):