Balancing Business and Sustainability: A Blueprint for the Future

Nature loss and climate change are bad for business. The strength of our economy and the well-being of our planet are deeply intertwined, making it crucial to decarbonize and transform corporate practices to better reflect nature’s limits. As nature loss and climate change impact our quality of life and economic stability, companies are looking for nature-based solutions, recognizing that ignoring the environment poses a business risk. 

Research shows that more than half of the world’s gross domestic product (GDP) — more than US$44 trillion — is moderately or highly dependent on nature. For businesses to thrive in the face of uncertainty, they must adopt an integrated approach to operations, not just for the planet’s sake, but also for the economy’s long-term health. In reality, incorporating nature into business operations can lead to greater profitability.

Jane Church, Corporate Engagement Director at Nature United, delves into how Nature United works with companies to develop solutions that help safeguard vital ecosystems and build economic resilience. 

Why is it crucial for the private sector to address climate change and nature loss?

Businesses recognize that key sectors such as agriculture, forestry and mining depend on natural resources, including crops, timber and clean water. They also appreciate that their employees and customers rely on nature within the communities where they live and work. Our recent polling shows that 81 per cent of Canadians expect businesses to lead on climate solutions, aligning with both consumer expectations and the Earth’s urgent needs. We need to consider risks to nature and climate in tandem with other business risks. Our natural resources are national assets and governments have a role to play in working with businesses and Indigenous communities to steward them for optimal productive, economic and social outcomes. 

By investing in Natural Climate Solutions — which are efforts to protect, manage and restore nature and reduce greenhouse gas emissions — alongside their efforts to decarbonize, businesses can meet their climate goals, while benefiting the environment and communities. In Canada alone, these solutions could potentially reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 78 megatonnes annually, which is equal to about 11 per cent of Canada’s annual emissions.

We know this work must urgently accelerate for Canada to remain competitive and resilient. Addressing nature loss and climate change requires a fundamental shift in how businesses operate in partnership with the government, public, communities and Indigenous Peoples. 

How does Nature United work with companies? 

Nature United enables the changes that businesses alone can’t achieve.

As a strategic partner, we help businesses develop approaches that weave nature-related risks and opportunities into their operations and supply chains. We serve as solutions experts, using our conservation and scientific expertise to tackle the biggest sustainability challenges. For example, in the Aspen Parkland Agricultural Initiative (APAI), we’re using the research we’ve commissioned on beneficial agricultural practices to improve corporate sustainable agriculture programs in the Aspen Parkland ecoregion of the Prairies, where crops such as wheat, canola, oats and barley are grown.

We also engage companies to support our work as it aligns with their sustainability goals and targets. Procter & Gamble, the Walmart Foundation and the BHP Foundation, for example, have supported our conservation efforts in places such as British Columbia and Manitoba, advancing Indigenous-led visions for forest conservation and sustainable management.

Additionally, we’re a convener, helping companies navigate the complex world of responsible environmental practices, find credible partners and tailor their efforts to the unique challenges of the Canadian landscape, all while staying connected to global sustainability goals

Can you share an example of how you’re bringing institutions together to navigate sustainability? 

The APAI project exemplifies this approach. We’re building a collective of people and organizations across the Aspen Parkland — which spans Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba — who are invested in integrating sustainability into this ecoregion’s agricultural system. This collective includes producers and their associations; companies in the value chain; Indigenous, federal and provincial governments; and other supporting organizations such as researchers and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). 

The idea is to ensure that sustainable practices are agronomically and economically viable for farmers. Because if they don’t make agronomic and economic sense, they won’t stick. But when these practices do take hold, the environmental benefits will follow. This isn’t just about working farm by farm; it’s also about co-ordinating efforts across the entire landscape to drive real, long-term change.

We need to work collaboratively — on a landscape scale — and across a large geographical area to tackle environmental challenges and create the enabling conditions for change in a region. This approach is where corporate sustainability efforts are heading.

How does Nature United share its technical expertise and scientific knowledge to help the private sector develop viable environmental solutions?

Everything we do is grounded in science that integrates regional, national and global data and analysis. We leverage our ​​global affiliate’s team of diverse experts, including more than 400 scientists, and share lessons learned from their involvement with similar initiatives in the United States and globally. This perspective is especially important when working with companies worldwide, because it allows us to stay connected to international expertise and trends, while ensuring our efforts in Canada are both informed by and contribute to the broader global dialogue on sustainability.

Our Canadian team includes experts in conservation, science, policy and corporate sustainability, allowing us to apply our knowledge and expertise to Canadian challenges and opportunities. 

How does Nature United work with the agricultural industry? 

In the agricultural sector — where we could achieve almost half of the potential emissions reductions from Natural Climate Solutions — our priority initiative is the APAI. This project brings together our work with producers, companies and governments. Another top initiative is our support of the Canadian Alliance for Net-Zero Agri-Food (CANZA), which aims to build a sustainable, net-zero agri-food system in Canada. We’re supporting CANZA in developing solutions that are scientifically robust, scalable and practical for Canadian farmers. 

How does Nature United address the risk of greenwashing, while encouraging genuine corporate collaboration?

When it comes to collaborating with companies, we carefully evaluate and identify those that best align with our mission of protecting the natural world. We ensure that any engagement offers clear conservation benefits with lasting, measurable outcomes. All of our corporate engagements must align with our principles.

While companies that make misleading environmental claims face greater regulatory oversight and scrutiny, we must also be careful not to scare away businesses from climate action. It’s all about finding the right balance: holding companies accountable, while encouraging meaningful investment and collaboration to achieve a net-zero, nature-positive future.

As businesses face the dual challenges of climate change and nature loss, integrating nature-based solutions is no longer optional — it’s essential for long-term growth and resilience. By collaborating with Nature United, companies can navigate this critical transition, ensuring their operations not only minimize harm, but also actively contribute to the health of ecosystems and economies alike. 

The path ahead requires bold action, but with combined efforts and strategies, the private sector can help drive the transformative change needed for a sustainable and thriving future. 

Learn more about our approach to working with companies and contact us to get involved.