The economy needs nature –
and we can prove it
Nature gives us so much – the fresh air we breathe, clean water to drink, fertile soil to grow our food, and the wildlife and green spaces that bring joy and wonder into our lives. It protects us from floods and heatwaves, supports our mental health, and underpins our economy.
Our groundbreaking new report found that our unique biodiversity generates $511 billion for the Australian economy each year!
Nature gives more to our economy than mining or finance – yet it gets just 0.1% of the federal budget. That’s nowhere near enough to secure our landscapes, wildlife, and way of life for future generations.
The consequences of long-term underinvestment are showing:
- we have the largest documented decline in biodiversity of any continent
- at least 17 of our ecosystems are showing signs of collapse or near collapse
- we lead the world in mammal extinctions.
Investing 1% of the Federal Budget in nature could:
- boost productivity of our lands and workforce by over 40% – on par with the biggest pro-growth reforms.
- protect natural infrastructure that underpins 20% of our GDP
- provide co-benefits such as reducing future disaster recovery costs, improving public health, and strengthening Australia’s climate resilience.
Read the Full report:
Download Nature Economics: Analysis of the case for Australian Government investment in nature (PDF 2.4mb)
Add Your Voice
Investing 1% of the federal budget in nature can boost productivity and protect our unique ecosystems for future generations to enjoy.