State of Natural Capital Report for England 2024: Risks to Nature and Why it Matters

The economy and society are intimately dependent on the health of the natural environment. Healthy, functioning ecosystems are more resilient and adaptive to change and are more productive, providing us with a wide range of benefits that we rely on – such as clean air and water, health and wellbeing, and helping us to adapt to climate change. These all, in turn, contribute to society and the economy. However, England’s ecosystems face considerable risks, and nature is declining. One of the reasons for this is that nature is often invisible in decision-making, even when it is relevant because we rely on the delivery of nature’s benefits to achieve our societal goals.

The State of Natural Capital Report for England seeks to provide the information on nature that decision-makers need so that they can include it, making the invisible visible. In a nutshell, it:

•  Assesses risk to England’s natural capital based on past and ongoing impacts on ecosystems and the benefits they provide.

•  Highlights the consequences of this risk on policy areas that are most dependent on the benefits from nature.

• Identifies priority actions to mitigate the risks, through reducing pressures and large-scale ecosystem restoration.

• Shows how the evidence and analysis can be used to bring the state of natural capital into decision making across government.

Publication of the State of Natural Capital Report is just the first step. This webinar will introduce the report and then go on to focus on what this means now for decision-making and impact. We are looking forward to a good discussion on how to get nature, and the risks to nature’s benefits, included and visible in decision-making to improve our prosperity, resilience and wellbeing.

Speakers

The webinar will be presented by two of the report authors from Natural England’s Natural Capital team.