Nature+ development

Nature-based solutions to economic and social development

The global economy has grown and changed significantly in recent decades. Although many measures of development such as income and life expectancy have improved, the benefits of global economic growth have been uneven. There has been a drastic rise in social inequality and environmental degradation — a direct result of the pursuit of unsustainable management of the Earth’s natural wealth.

IUCN wants to see a rapid transition to a green economy, one that recognises the fundamental dependence of human well-being on nature and the critical benefits and services it provides. Healthy ecosystems such as forests, wetlands and river basins play a major role in supporting local livelihoods as well as providing investment opportunities.

It is time for countries to act collectively to reform the economy so that it supports efforts to eliminate poverty, protect biodiversity and ecosystem services, and promotes sustainable development. IUCN calls for a re-examination of our economic indicators to identify those which can better reflect the status of human well-being. It also wants to see the full value of biodiversity and ecosystem services reflected in national accounts, private sector reporting, and decision making.

Videos


Ruksana Mirza, Head of Sustainable Development, HOLCIM

Nature’s business is our business

How can HOLCIM best answer the sustainability challenges? What are the benefits of HOLCIM’s collaboration with IUCN? Ruksana Mirza, HOLCIM’s Head of sustainable development is sharing her thoughts. …  

12 Sep 2012 | Video
0 Comments | Write a comment

Javed Jabbar, vice president of IUCN

Redefining development to reach sustainability

Javed Jabbar, vice president of IUCN since 1995, explains why it is crucial to redefine our definition of development, in order to make human activities sustainable. Environment has to be seen as a framework to development, rather than simply an add-on. …  

09 Sep 2012 | Video
0 Comments | Write a comment

H.E. Dr. Maan-ee LEE, former Minister of Environment of the Republic of Korea

Go for “low carbon, green growth”

What biggest environmental challenge the Republic of Korea is facing? What is its latest environmental success? What expectations are raised by the 2012 IUCN World Conservation Congress? …  

08 Sep 2012 | Video
0 Comments | Write a comment

Henri Djombo Congo

La nature, le lien qui nous unit

Henri Djombo, Ministre de l'Économie forestière, de l'Environnement et du Développement durable, République du Congo, est un leader en termes de coopération internationale environnementale. …  

08 Sep 2012 | Video

Dance show on 3rd day of Nature Olympics

Nature Olympics Day Three

Day three of the IUCN Congress focused on ‘green growth’ and the alternatives to our current economic model. We saw the progress done on the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems, the announcements on IUCN’s Green List and Livelihoods Fund, and enjoyed the Hula dance performance. …  

10 Sep 2012 | Video
0 Comments | Write a comment

Braulio Dias, Secretario Ejecutivo del CDB

¿Se valora a la biodiversidad en su justa medida?

Braulio Dias, Secretario Ejecutivo del CDB, habla sobre la correlación entre humanidad, biodiversidad y desarrollo sostenible. …  

12 Sep 2012 | Video
0 Comments | Write a comment

Related news


Dr. Samantha Smith

Mining in the Pacific - an industry perspective

The 2012 IUCN World Conservation Congress has provided a forum for all sectors of society, including industry to discuss critical issues concerning the conservation and sustainable use of nature. Nautilus Minerals, the first company in the world to be granted a deep-sea mining license, is here at the Congress to share their work and plans.  …  

11 Sep 2012 | Audio
1 Comment | Write a comment

This image shows the courtship behavior of Indian Bull frogs (Holobatrachus tigerinus). During the monsoon, the breeding males become bright yellow in color, while females remain dull. The prominent blue vocal sacs of male produce strong nasal mating call.

IUCN and Microsoft form unique partnership to tackle species extinction

Microsoft and IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, jointly announced today at the 2012 IUCN World Conservation Congress in South Korea, the formation of a new partnership to further strengthen the information available on The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™. This collaboration sees Microsoft becoming the first corporate member of The IUCN Red List Partnership. …   | French | Spanish

11 Sep 2012 | International news release

World Leaders Dialogues 2012

Green growth: over-burdened by scepticism?

Tonight, the World Leaders Dialogue at the IUCN Congress started with an easy question. Yes, green growth can be a reality. But a flow of questions from the audience reflected several concerns including how to make it real and market-driven in a world with seven billion people to feed and how to convince sceptics that green growth is worth the extra cost. …  

09 Sep 2012 | News story

Survey of coral  growth in Weh Island,Indonesia

Business solutions based on scientific analysis

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the Stockholm Resilience Centre (SRC) are collaborating in a practical effort to bridge the gap between business and science which was announced during the IUCN Congress today. …  

08 Sep 2012 | News story

Forests in the Gulf of Guinea, Africa

Restoring world’s forests proven to boost local economies and reduce poverty

Jeju Island, Republic of Korea, 8 September 2012 (IUCN). A 5-year programme to restore forest landscapes in 23 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America has demonstrated their crucial role in creating jobs and boosting incomes for local residents. …   | French | Spanish

08 Sep 2012 | International news release

Lori Anna Conzo, IFC expert

Pushing private sector biodiversity performance

IUCN spoke to Lori Anna Conzo of the International Finance Corporation, part of the World Bank Group, who took part in the dialogue  'Scaling up and spreading best policy practice for business solutions' here at the Congress. She tells us about the Performance Standards the IFC has developed to help companies in all sectors address biodiversity concerns. …  

08 Sep 2012 | Audio

Mexico - The Cahoacán River is a lifeline for local communities, irrigation and agribusiness

New report demonstrates business' positive impact on ecosystems

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) has launched a series of case studies from some of the world's biggest companies with a new report Biodiversity and ecosystem services: scaling up business solutions. 

08 Sep 2012 | News story

Green Economy

Nature+ development - Key messages from the IUCN Congress Forum

9 September 2012 - When considering development, there is a tendency to focus on business and industry; however, as seen in the Forum sessions today, if development is to be sustainable, many interdependent sectors must be considered: …  

10 Sep 2012 | Article
0 Comments | Write a comment

 
  • IUCN Nature+ Development
 
 
World Leaders Dialogues
  • WLD development
 
 
 
 
Interview

IUCN’s David Huberman outlines recent developments in this area and the approach needed to push the green economy up the international agenda.