For too long, we have taken nature for granted, ignoring its fundamental role in our lives. We have focused on the monetary aspect, emphasising the resources needed to acquire material possessions without duly considering their origins. Biodiversity represents our planet’s natural capital and encompasses the stock of its invaluable resources.
Ecosystems are the intricate interconnected systems that sustain life, providing vital services such as soil fertility, pollination, climate regulation, clean air and fresh water. These targets will need to be localised by governments to enable the recovery of natural ecosystems over the next 20 years, with the aim of achieving the convention’s vision of “living in harmony with nature by 2050”. Hong Kong’s authorities are naturally eager to engage with financiers and leading businesses in the creation of the city’s new biodiversity strategy.
Still, the new-found interest of financial professionals and corporate leaders in nature conservation has been a surprise to government officials. Biodiversity and ecosystems used to be seen as topics of interest primarily for nature lovers and experts such as ecologists and arborists. Indeed, businesses are already working with the local biodiversity community precisely because of their expertise, and together they have organised a non-government process to interact with the authorities on the Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.
There is keen interest in how the government will foster.
