Economic growth and resilience depend on ecosystems. From forests to farmlands to oceans, Earth’s ecosystems are the basis of resources, services and industries. But as the world’s population multiplies, driving demand, these landscapes are being degraded at an alarming rate.

Managed right, nature can be central to eradicating poverty, creating livelihoods and driving long-term economic growth.

This means decoupling growth from environmental degradation. It means embracing resource efficiency and circularity to continually re-use materials in production processes.

Investing in protecting and restoring the natural ecosystems will help protect humanity from the costly – and deadly- impacts of future pandemics and climate change.

Recovery from COVID-19 presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reverse the damage we are doing to nature. Stimulus packages being rolled out by several governments should be rooted in environmental sustainability. They must encourage resource efficiency, proper waste management, and drastic cuts in pollution and emissions.

A low-carbon recovery will create jobs and accelerate economic growth, while improving human health, making our towns and cities liveable, and safeguarding the environment for future generations.