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- Nature's loss is our loss. The imperative high cost of biodiversity destruction on businesses & health.
Nature's loss is our loss. The imperative high cost of biodiversity destruction on businesses & health.
Nature has been warning us of the high cost of inaction on preventable ecosystem collapses, when will we listen?
If we could ask for Nature’s advice on Climate Change, what would they say?
Even though they don’t speak our language, we can still intercept their signs and science of extreme weather events such as record-breaking heatwaves, floods and more common occurrence of ecosystem collapses, such as the ongoing Global Mass Coral Bleaching.
Sidenote: The world has experienced four global mass coral bleaching events, including the ongoing mass bleaching since 2023 (refer to image), which are directly linked to rising ocean temperatures caused by climate change. Coral Reef Watch has reported that the ongoing global mass coral bleaching is the biggest to date, impacting 83.8% of the world’s coral reef area, in at least 83 countries and territories, since 1st Jan 2023 to 20th May 2025.
Coral reefs are often called the "rainforests of the sea" because they support an astonishing diversity of marine life. They provide essential habitat, shelter, breeding grounds, and food for an estimated 25% of all marine species, including thousands of fish, invertebrate, and other sea organisms. When corals die, an entire marine ecosystem could collapse.
Hitting closer to home, Singapore coral reefs had been reported to a lower reproductive season in 2025, due to mass coral bleaching in the year of 2024, which was one of Singapore’s hottest year on record - all months recorded temperatures that were equal or above their respective long-term averages.
Nature has been trying to warn us, but are we listening?
A PwC research released in 2023 found that 55% of the world’s GDP, equivalent to an estimated US $58 trillion is dependent on nature, which is an increase from US $44 trillion in 2020.
Hence it’s imperative that Biodiversity loss & protection is raised and discussed in our community climate education series; SYNC.
At the most recent session on 22nd May, we had the honour of inviting urban biodiversity steward leader, Chief Sustainability Officer of City Developments Limited (CDL), Esther An, who is also one of TIME100 most influential Climate Leaders, to open our 3rd SYNC sustainability event, Biodiversity & Me.
Esther An presenting at our SYNC Biodiversity workshop (left) Natasha (Climate Education lead) & Thibaut (Founder of TTP) having a moment with Esther.
Esther’s thought leadership in urban biodiversity is well-respected and highly sought after especially in the small state land of Singapore, where not only is she the CSO of an international property developer, she’s also the sustainability leader of a nation that have treaded lightly in the symbiotic relationship between people and nature biodiversity.
Esther’s opening keynote of the session highlighted how nature degradation, such as coral bleaching, freshwater species extinction, and large-scale deforestation, poses systemic threats to global GDP, with nearly 50% of economic value reliant on nature.
With nearly half of the global GDP tied to nature, the message was clear: nature risk is business risk.
CDL is also one of the early adopters and exemplary companies that adopted TNFD (Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures) framework into its holistic sustainability reporting.
Moving towards a Nature-Positive world:
The ultimate aim of TNFD is to shift global financial flows away from nature-negative outcomes and towards nature-positive outcomes.
The TNFD recommendations are aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), particularly Target 15, which calls on governments to introduce requirements for businesses to monitor, assess, and transparently disclose their risks, dependencies, and impacts on biodiversity.
Nature loss and ecosystem degradation pose significant financial risks to businesses.
These include operational risks (e.g., disruptions to supply chains due to water scarcity or pollinator decline), regulatory risks (e.g., new environmental regulations, fines), reputational risks (e.g., backlash from stakeholders for negative environmental impacts), and market risks (e.g., shifts in consumer preferences towards more sustainable products). The TNFD framework helps companies identify, assess, and manage these risks proactively.
By understanding their dependencies and impacts on nature, companies can identify new business opportunities related to nature-positive outcomes.
This could include developing sustainable products and services, investing in nature-based solutions (e.g., wetland restoration for water purification), or adopting more regenerative agricultural practices.
The TNFD encourages companies to embed nature-related considerations into their core business strategy and financial planning. This involves evaluating how nature-related issues will impact their business model, value creation, and long-term sustainability.
The imperative cost of Biodiversity destruction on businesses: Nature’s loss is our loss.
Here are 3 biodiversity-linked risks the world will face, should we continue to ignore Nature’s warnings:
High cost of inaction on preventable ecosystem collapse:
According to the World Bank, ecosystem service collapse (e.g., pollination, flood protection) could result in US$2.7 trillion in economic losses by 2030. The WHO estimates US$10 trillion in annual health-related costs linked to nature degradation.
Nature isn’t charity, it’s an investible asset with financial materiality.
53% of APAC Gross Value Add comes from sectors directly reliant on natural ecosystems. Failing to act is not a cost-saving decision, it’s a risk multiplier.
Nature-positive built environment, which is defined as shared space with nature that puts the whole ecosystems, not just humans, at the centre of design. The nature-based transition presents US$935 billions in business opportunities & 38 million jobs by transition in 2030.
Climate and nature risks dominate long-term global threats.
According to World Economic Forum, environmental risks, which include extreme weather events, ecosystem collapse, resource shortages, biodiversity loss, are expected to worsen in severity and most significant in deterioration (image below). Addressing climate risks is no longer a distant possibility, they are an urgent reality.
The Great Green Barrier: Saving our Biodiversity can save us from our man-made ecological crisis of climate change.
Addressing Climate Transition risks in Multinational Supply Chain:
Learn how to assess your business’s climate resilience strengths and transition risks at our upcoming ESG leadership program tailored for MNCs’ supply chains in Singapore on 18th June. Suitable for business founders & sustainability professionals!
Founders and CSOs: Need help overcoming your organisation's sustainability challenges?
Book a 30mins non-obligatory call during our ESG consulting office hours for bespoke advice!
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