Net Zero Nature: WWF's Tanya Steele on why nature matters

BusinessGreen staff
clock • 1 min read

VIDEO: UK chief executive of the conservation group issues a rallying call for businesses to jointly tackle the interlinked nature loss and climate crises

Nature underpins our economies and our prosperity, and our failure to reverse nature loss is therefore costing us dearly.

But the good news is that nature can provide around one-third of the cost-effective climate mitigation needed between now and 2030 to achieve the 1.5ºC goal of the Paris Agreement. Natural solutions are estimated to have the potential to lift a billion people out of poverty, create 80 million jobs, add an additional $2.3tr of growth to the global economy, and prevent $3.7tr of climate change damages. So what's holding us back?

Speaking at BusinessGreen's Net Zero Nature Summit last week, WWF UK's chief executive Tanya Steele offered her take on why nature is so crucial to tackling the climate crisis, arguing that reversing nature loss holds huge opportunities society and business alike - but that time is fast running out to take action.

The fascinating and wide-ranging keynote discussion with BusinessGreen's editor in chief James Murray can now be watched again in full above, and is also available on demand to watch again on the Net Zero Nature event website.

All of the panel debates, keynote speeches, and presentations from BusinessGreen's recent Net Zero Nature summit event - which took place on 27 May and featured scores of top speakers from business, politics and academia - are now available to watch again on demand for those who have signed up to the event through the Net Zero Nature website and on Swapcard.

More on Biodiversity

Restore secures 7,500-acre Northumberland estate for nature recovery

Restore secures 7,500-acre Northumberland estate for nature recovery

Nature restoration company hails deal as 'one of the UK's most ambitious partnerships for nature recovery, climate resilience and community benefit'

Michael Holder
clock 21 July 2026 • 3 min read
The Duchy of Cornwall's David Cope: 'Sustainability is a mindset as much as a job'

The Duchy of Cornwall's David Cope: 'Sustainability is a mindset as much as a job'

The executive director for purpose at the Prince of Wales' private estate unpacks why sustainability professionals are in the 'business of people' and the misconception that land ownership is passive

Stuart Stone
clock 21 July 2026 • 10 min read
Neil Hornby appointed as the next chief executive of Natural England

Neil Hornby appointed as the next chief executive of Natural England

Chief executive at Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science to take up reins of key nature agency from this autumn

James Murray
clock 20 July 2026 • 2 min read