"Our economy and our environment are inextricably linked. We cannot have one without the other, and we must work to find a balance that allows both to thrive"

Economy and environment form a single system: the goods, services, and jobs people rely on depend on stable climates, fertile soils, clean water, and biodiversity, while the way we produce and consume shapes those very foundations. Treating them as separate domains invites false choices, grow now, clean up later, that ultimately undermine both prosperity and ecological health.

Balance here is not a simple midpoint; it’s a dynamic alignment of human activity with the planet’s limits. When ecosystems are degraded, the bill arrives as supply chain disruptions, crop failures, health burdens from pollution, disaster recovery costs, insurance losses, and stranded assets. Conversely, healthy natural systems provide measurable economic returns through pollination, flood control, water filtration, carbon storage, and recreation. Long-term competitiveness rests on conserving these assets.

The path to synergy lies in decoupling value creation from resource depletion. That means accelerating the energy transition; designing products for durability, reuse, and recycling; increasing efficiency across buildings, transport, and industry; and adopting nature-positive practices in agriculture and forestry. Such moves are not mere compliance; they open new markets, spur innovation, and build resilience. Clean technologies, ecosystem restoration, and circular business models create jobs and reduce risk exposure.

Policy, finance, and corporate governance are pivotal. Pricing externalities like carbon, enforcing clear standards, and requiring transparent disclosure of climate and nature risks steer capital toward durable outcomes. Natural capital accounting can put ecosystems on the balance sheet, guiding smarter investment. A just transition matters too: workers and communities need support, retraining, and participation so the gains of change are widely shared.

Ultimately, resilience becomes a core economic metric alongside productivity and growth. Measuring success through wellbeing, risk reduction, and ecological integrity encourages long-term thinking. Collaboration across governments, businesses, scientists, and citizens can align incentives and timelines. Prosperity that endures arises when economic ambition operates within ecological reality, allowing both people and planet to thrive together.