Financial leaders have urged the country to focus on protecting and restoring nature – but details remain thin on the ground

As the Albanese government prepared to host what has been billed as a “global nature-positive summit” in Sydney, Australian business and finance leaders issued something of a rallying call. In a joint statement, they urged the country to focus more on the importance of nature protection and restoration, warning the nation’s economy depends on it.

Their statement had few specifics, but the organisations behind it – including the Australian Industry Group, the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the Australian Climate and Biodiversity Foundation led by former Treasury secretary Ken Henry and groups representing accountants, superannuation investors and the insurance industry – said the evidence was clear that nature was degrading at an unprecedented rate globally and that about half of Australia’s GDP depended on its health, either directly or indirectly.

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