Over 50% of the world’s GDP is dependent on nature and, as such, economic stability is closely tied to ecosystem health. Biodiversity loss has profound economic consequences, particularly in sectors like agriculture, fisheries and healthcare. It is estimated that the global economic impact of biodiversity loss amounts to US$ 10 trillion annually, including healthcare costs from increased disease transmission and agricultural losses from pollinator declines. For example, the decline in bee populations, which are responsible for pollinating crops worth over US$ 235 billion annually, threatens global food security and nutrition.
Just as diversity within a portfolio of financial assets reduces risk and uncertainty, so diversity within a portfolio of natural assets increases Nature’s resilience to shocks, reducing the risks to Nature’s services. Reduce biodiversity, and Nature and humanity suffer.
Source: EU Commission (2025) Biodiversity and trade 2021; Biodiversity and finance 2021; WHO (2025) Fact Sheet on Biodiversity; The Economics of Biodiversity, The Dasgupta Review, 2021.
