NATURE POSITIVE—WHAT DOES IT MEAN AND WHY IS IT SO CRITICAL FOR AUSTRALIA AND OUR FUTURE?

You’ve likely heard the term ‘Nature Positive’. But what does it really mean, why is it so important, and how can we transform our world into a nature-positive future where people and nature live in harmony?

What is Nature Positive and how is WWF working to achieve it?

A thriving natural world leads to a healthy planet, flourishing communities and resilient economies. This isn’t just a nice idea—it’s essential for our future. Our natural world is in crisis and it is critical to turn things around this decade. We must reverse the damage to our planet and help ecosystems recover—because there’s still time to halt the loss of nature by 2030.

Nature Positive means protecting and restoring nature so there’s more of it in the world in 2030 than there was in 2020. It means restoring forests, rivers and oceans so they provide the clean air, fresh water and stable climate we depend on for our survival. Doing so can lead our planet to a full recovery by 2050, with a thriving natural world for all. A world that will support both people and the planet for generations to come.

It’s a global goal that’s been defined by the Nature Positive Initiative, which brings together 27 of the world’s largest conservation organisations—including WWF—along with research institutes, businesses and financial coalitions. It is also at the core of the Global Biodiversity Framework, which was adopted by Australia and almost every other country in the world in December 2022.

This goal may seem ambitious, but it’s necessary to combat the climate crisis, protect and restore ecosystems and tackle food and water insecurities. And it can be achieved if we work together.

Since day one, supporting and regenerating nature across Australia has been at the heart of WWF-Australia. You’ll see this reflected in Regenerate Nature by 2030 - our bold strategy to restore and regenerate our planet for everything that calls it home.

Why is Nature Positive such a crucial global objective?

Taking care of nature now is essential for a better future for everyone. By setting a clear, science-based and measurable global goal, we can drive action and hold governments, business and society accountable on an international scale. This has been demonstrated with Net Zero to combat climate change. In fact Nature Positive and Net Zero go hand in hand. Climate change is a key driver of nature loss, and more nature is an important way to reduce the impacts of climate change. So it is important to manage these two challenges together.

“We are facing a triple planetary crisis – climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste. We need now to translate this into integrity and accountability to help us move more into a climate neutral, nature-positive, and pollution-free world,"said Inger Andersen, United Nations Environment Programme Executive Director.

In just 50 years, the average size of monitored wildlife populations has plummeted by a catastrophic 73%, according to the WWF’s 2024 Nature’s Living Planet Report. We’ve seen the effects on our own shores, with a 57% decrease in nesting female hawksbill turtles on Milman Island since 1990, threatening them with local extinction by 2036. And at Mt Higginbotham, mountain pygmy-possums, brought back from supposed extinction in 1966, are now at half their pre-2009 levels.

“Australia is experiencing declining wildlife populations, record temperatures, bleached coral, destroyed forests. Across the world, ecosystems are suffering. Earth is sending out an SOS. Tackling the linked crises of nature loss and climate change requires a huge collective effort,” said Dermot O’Gorman, WWF-Australia Chief Executive Officer.

WWF-Australia has and will always continue to work to rebuild and protect nature at our local level to contribute to global impact—from restoring 478.93 hectares of koala habitat through assisted regeneration to planting 91,901 koala food and habitat trees, revegetating 104.75 hectares. We’ve also reintroduced endangered eastern quolls to Booderee National Park and advocated for stronger nature laws to protect threatened species. While we’ve seen positive changes, such as Queensland welcoming strong climate and renewables laws, we’ve also unearthed logging loopholes, excessive landclearing, and woeful underuse of habitat protection laws, highlighting the need for swift and comprehensive action to restore nature in Australia.

Why we need a Nature Positive future

The urgent call for global action and a shared mission is clear and has been echoed by leaders and experts worldwide. It has triggered international agreements, corporate commitments, conservation projects and law reforms. Ninety-seven world leaders have endorsed the Leaders’ Pledge for Nature, a global commitment to reverse biodiversity loss and restore ecosystems by 2030.

Australia has the world’s highest mammal extinction rate, making our environmental record an urgent concern. And loopholes in our main environmental law, the EPBC Act, aren’t helping. WWF’s 2018 Living Planet Report revealed east coast koalas could disappear by 2050 if tree-clearing laws aren’t changed. The devastating 2019-2020 bushfires exacerbated this crisis, impacting 3 billion animals, including over 60,000 koalas, and destroying over 12 million hectares of habitat. The year 2020 also saw a 52% increase in the destruction of critical greater glider habitat in Queensland and New South Wales, despite these iconic marsupials being listed as Vulnerable in 2016.

It’s clear the loopholes in the EPBC Act are failing our wildlife—and have been for years. The 2021 State of the Environment Report and the 2022 Nature Positive Plan have uncovered alarming species extinctions, habitat loss and the destruction of cultural heritage sites. They also revealed the EPBC Act is failing to prevent environmental decline. This prompted proposed reforms to the Act in 2024 to enforce stricter rules, provide more reliable environmental data, ensure environmental projects give more back to nature, and introduce tougher penalties for causing environmental harm. It’s a promising step forward, but how this plays out remains to be seen. Because nature won’t wait.

WWF-Australia is urging the government to act quickly by following through on their Nature Positive Plan, adopting stronger nature-positive laws, and properly funding nature-positive efforts. 

As we look towards a Nature Positive future, First Nations voices are vital

The Nature Positive Initiative is about more than just protecting our environment—it’s a commitment to creating a better future for everyone. 

At the inaugural Global Nature Positive Summit 2024, First Nations peoples from across the continentreleased a joint statement calling for a nature-positive future, which said: “Nature Positive may sound like a new concept, but First Peoples have been nature-positive for millennia. We call it caring for Country. Whether it’s land, sea or sky, caring for Country has been part of our stories and songlines for generations. It’s driven by one simple principle: leaving Country better than you found it.”

Cliff Cobbo, WWF-Australia’s First Nations Principal Adviser, highlighted the importance of meaningful, informed action, “Nature-positive is not a new concept for First Nations peoples. It’s in our DNA. We have a physical and spiritual connection to nature. It’s our inherent right and responsibility to look after and care for Country and we’ve been doing so for thousands of generations. 

Governments, civil society and Traditional Owners working together on climate change decisions from the outset is the way forward.

A Nature Positive future is our cultural authority and Knowledge being recognised and valued as a vital part of nature-based solutions to the climate crisis. It always was and always will be.”

How can you help secure a Nature Positive future for Australia?

Our natural world is in crisis, but there’s still time to turn things around. Our future—and the future of generations to come—depends on acting now. Together, we can secure a nature-positive world. Here’s how you can help put our planet on the road to recovery:

• Learn more about our mission to Regenerate Nature by 2030 and how you can support our work. 
• Add your voice to Protect Aussie Wildlife, calling on your local member of parliament to strengthen nature laws.
• Discover more about Inclusive Conservation and its vital role in restoring and regenerating nature.