Work In Progress: Matt's search for Business with Nature (Part 3/3)

“We’re not just talking to ‘nature-lovers’, all decision-makers need to put Nature at the heart of their leadership – in business, policy, education and community.”

Walking into the COP15 UN Biodiversity Convention in Montreal last December was a daunting experience. Picture representatives from 190+ countries around the world, speaking a completely different (policy) language and you’re standing there thinking to yourself – Ok, where do I even begin?

Remarkably these actors and diverse stakeholders managed to walk away two weeks later, having put their differences aside in the interest of the Common Good and landed a new Global Biodiversity Framework. Government, Business, Finance, Civil Society, First Nations, Rangers, you name it … Decision-Makers across our society have clear guidelines about how to factor Nature in their work. And thank goodness because we’re pretty much stuffed if we don’t lift our game and rethink our relationship with Mother Earth and the ecosystem services she provides. The question becomes, how? (And who pays?)

Before I go further, I do want to put upfront that Humanity has set itself a mighty challenge, we’re up against it. Like the Hollywood film that starts with awe, suddenly dips into jeopardy, and then sweeps in at the last with a splash of hope and joy, we are tackling our biggest challenge yet – a triple planetary crisis: biodiversity loss, climate change and pollution. We’re also battling against centuries of intergenerational baggage where we’ve taught ourselves and built most of the world’s human systems around the idea that Nature is to be feared, controlled and conquered. Other cultures, including First Nations and many Eastern Nations, offer a different narrative where people are positioned as carers and custodians, meaning that Nature can actually have an extra sparkle when people are looking after it.

Now, at the risk of simplifying complex issues and pretending to understand more than I do, I would like to draw upon my unconventional business education to suggest a couple of ways we might approach this question of how to realign Business AND Nature. In my opinion, as the West comes to its senses and realises that Nature is indeed critical to our survival and that we should set about reviewing and adapting our relationship with Her, it’s going to be critical that this ‘new knowledge’ is grounded in old knowledge and wisdom. We will need:

Scientifically verified facts about Nature’s benefits and interdependencies with human wellbeing, AND

Economically validated statistics that Nature’s services benefit business, finance and communities, AND

Politically nuanced discourse that embed Nature’s rights into constitutions, AND

Cross-referencing, peer-reviewing and social-proofing with the unbroken knowledge held by First Nations Elders and those closest to Nature.

You see, we need to step out of the usual intellectual parameters which comfort Western minds in decision-making processes and open ourselves up to different ways of seeing, knowing and being. Because many parts of our established ways of seeing, knowing and being are responsible for the pickle that we find ourselves in and we need to be brave enough to question which parts are still fit for purpose.

What do we want the headlines to be in 2023?

‘Western Society comes to its senses, First Nations Elders given decision-making platform’

‘Mother Nature Becomes Cool: Politicians & Business Leaders Break Stigma For Future Generations'

INSERT YOUR OWN …

Like a child who learns a new skill, and risks overshooting their confidence … so too, Scientists, Politicians, Economists and Business Leaders should be wary of their levels of ecological literacy. Sure, let’s make the changes, reorient the compass and even accelerate … but then let’s be prepared to do the work. And beyond the industry accolades, media attention and public praise, let’s remember that as Western leaders we are so early in our ecological re-learning. What we do now matters but really, it’s the younger generations who we’re handing the keys over to who will be doing the lion’s share of the work ahead. Let’s give them a fair chance.

This article is part of a three-story series shared by Matt Sykes, Founder of Regeneration Projects, with the purpose of supporting other people who are trying to bring their passions for Business and Nature together through their life and work. It’s also running as part of a campaign to promote a new Business with Nature Fellowship that his consultancy has launched – Express Your Interest here.

Part 3/3: Global Decision-Makers And Nature As A Foundation For All Life (& Work)

Written on Boonwurrung Country, Feb 2023

#BusinessWithNature #FirstNations #Indigenous #Sustainability #Education #Entrepreneurship #Ecological #Leadership #GenerationRestoration #BusinessAsAForceForGood #BCorp #OnePercentForThePlanet?