Professional services giant PwC is to expand its focus on biodiversity and natural capital by launching a Centre for Nature Positive Business and doubling the size of nature specialists team from 500 to 1,000 staff.
PwC’s nature specialists work on a variety of issues and topics, including nature positive strategy and transformation, nature risk management and reporting, nature technology, data and measurement, and nature finance and fund management.
The Centre for Nature Positive Business will look to expand PwC’s capabilities and expertise across the world in areas such as biodiversity, water, regenerative agriculture and forestry.
According to PwC research, more than half (55%) of the world’s GDP, equivalent to an estimated $58 trillion, is moderately or highly dependent on nature, rising from $44 trillion in 2020.
All 163 economic sectors analysed by PwC had a portion of their value chain that is highly dependent on nature. The health of natural ecosystems and biodiversity also had far reaching implications, with more than half (50.6%) of the market value of listed companies on 19 major stock exchanges exposed to material nature risk.
Will Jackson-Moore, global sustainability leader at PwC UK, said: “The declining health of our natural ecosystems presents one of the most pressing challenges to our planet today. Shifting demographic and industrial practices and a changing global climate threatens to erode the foundation of our economies, livelihoods, health and quality of life worldwide. This presents huge risks to business and society-at-large.”
Earlier this year, Emma Cox, global climate leader at PwC, made the point that a lack of action on adaptation plans is concerning, and that a Climate Change Committee report had merely reinforced those worries.
