Response to letter in the Financial Times from Manuel Rodriguez, Minister of Environment, Costa Rica
27 March 2020
Will our world leaders consider the interrelated emergencies we're facing?
We are living in unprecedented times. The current COVID-19 crisis is claiming lives and disrupting economies. The focus around the world is to slow the spread of the virus, protect those most at risk and support people whose livelihoods are being affected.
A letter published today in the Financial Times from Carlos Manual Rodriguez, Minister of Environment, Costa Rica and signed by hundreds of individuals calls on world leaders to have the courage, wisdom and foresight to seize the opportunity to make their economic recovery plans transformative for people and nature. Just a few days ago, there was a call for EU heads of states and governments to put in place a holistic economic recovery plan - a view shared by many others.
Now is the time for us to reflect on the inter-connectivity of everything - our food systems, human health, nature, and of course people. We must make sure climate change and biodiversity stay at the top of the agenda in order to emerge from this crisis with more resilient communities, greater health and wellbeing, and a healthier planet.
We're still facing a planetary crisis
When this health emergency is over, we will face others. Indeed, we’re still facing a climate and nature emergency. Business for Nature will continue its ambition to make nature a stakeholder in our economic, political, social and financial systems. We have been calling for governments to adopt more ambitious nature policies. It is now more than ever - as new economic stimulus packages are agreed - that we need decision-makers to integrate and enforce policies for nature, people and climate and reform subsidies and incentives that reward positive action on nature.
2020 can still be a Super Year - but rather than being based on key negotiation events, it offers a chance for us to reset our relationship with nature and appreciate the hidden value it offers. The early action from governments responding to COVID-19 shows what’s possible. Governments around the world have the chance to transform our current economic system from one built on efficiency to one based on resilience.
If business, government and society come together and get this right, could this year be the moment where we strengthen the resilience of our species and systems to accelerate towards a more sustainable future?
Business for Nature’s full policy recommendations can be found here.