IPBES Report: Businesses Key to Halting Biodiversity Crisis

By: Abudu Olalekan

Let’s be real—every business, no matter the industry, leans on nature in some way. From tech firms to textile factories, there’s always some link. Could be raw materials, water cycles, or even things like tourism and aesthetics. And yet, it’s a story we rarely tell. Nature’s been footing the bill for business growth for far too long—and the IPBES isn’t sugar-coating that anymore.

In a recent game-changing report from the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), published February 8, 2026, researchers offer something both urgent and clear: companies aren’t just bystanders in the loss of biodiversity. They’re central players. Which means they’re equally powerful in reversing the trend—if they choose to act.

The study, years in the making and written by 79 experts spanning 35 countries, lays it all out. It warns of one thing above all else: Business as usual? That’s a slow walk towards disaster.

You probably wouldn’t link, say, a finance firm or logistics provider with biodiversity. But you’d be surprised. Flood control systems, clean water, stable weather, fertile soil — businesses depend on all of this. And yet, most companies don’t factor nature into their bottom lines. That’s the problem.

The report, approved by 150+ governments at the recent IPBES gathering in Manchester, dives deep into how current systems practically reward environmental damage. And punish those trying to do the right thing. We’re looking at a system rigged with harmful subsidies, poor data infrastructure, and outdated models that ignore local knowledge. It’s messy.

According to the authors, in 2023 alone, $4.9 trillion in private finance actively contributed to nature’s decay. $2.4 trillion more came from public sources. And for nature-positive action? Just $220 billion. Stark, right?

Matt Jones, one of the lead authors, put it bluntly: “Businesses risk extinction too—just like the species they’re helping wipe out.” Sobering.

But here’s the twist: it doesn’t have to stay this way.

The IPBES report isn’t just doom and gloom. It’s a toolkit. There’s real, tangible hope here. Change is possible—but only if there’s a shift in mindset, incentives, and systems. And fast.

So what’s needed? Well, for starters—policies that reward doing the right thing. Take waste reduction and energy efficiency, for example. Companies already doing this are ahead of the curve. It’s good for the planet and profits. But if regulations and funding don’t support it across the board, progress will stall.

Another big piece is data—and the lack thereof.

Finance leaders surveyed said they struggle most with finding trustworthy biodiversity data, models, and scenarios. Prof. Stephen Polasky, another co-author, said that most businesses are drowning in frameworks but starving for clarity. The report helps cut through that fog, offering recommendations on how to measure business impact on nature, clearly and actionably.

From small shops to multinationals, one-size-fits-all doesn’t work. Different businesses need different approaches. Local, site-specific info matters at the ground level. Bigger players, though? They’ll need top-down tools, economic models, and broader analyses.

But one message keeps echoing: businesses need to engage more with Indigenous knowledge. These communities are often sidelined, even though they’ve safeguarded nature for generations. Respectful collaboration here isn’t charity. It’s common sense.

Prof. Ximena Rueda summed it up: “Scientific tools miss the mark if they ignore local insights. And businesses miss the mark if they ignore both.”

This isn’t a solo mission. Companies can’t fix biodiversity loss alone. Governments, financial institutions, civil society, even consumers—all have parts to play. The report offers over 100 real-world examples of actions that each sector can take. No fluff. Just straight-up what works.

As for businesses? They’ve got clear priorities now: stop greenwashing, lead with transparency, and show proof of impact. Because in this new era, nature is no longer a footnote to the profit report. It’s front and center.