Nature loss will cut UK GDP by 5% without action from private sector, say experts

The degradation of nature in the UK will lop nearly 5% off the country’s GDP if the private sector does not make a greater effort to halt the decline, experts have warned.

Conversely, investing in nature can produce economic returns for companies in a range of sectors, from manufacturing and construction to food, according to a report from the Green Finance Institute (GFI) and WWF.

But many businesses are failing to reform or are unaware of the impact of their actions on nature and the climate. The WWF economist Vassilis Gkoumas said: “A real plan to save UK nature must bring the private sector with it. Many businesses want greater clarity around how they can contribute to the transition. Now we need more to come forward.”

One solution is for companies to develop so-called nature-po