This one is for you, Nature

"Nothing is invented, for it's written in nature first"- Antoni Gaudí

Gaudí wasn't wrong. Born in my hometown, the beautiful city of Reus, the Catalan architect created some of the world's most beautiful and complex buildings inspired by natural shapes and circular models. His legacy and connection to nature has always been a great inspiration to me, also at work.

Just a year ago today, I stopped working to embark the greatest metamorphosis of life: becoming a mother. Especially since then, I've been in awe thinking about the concept of nature, and how deeply we're all connected and dependent from all living organisms around us. One just needs to look up at the sky and the stars to realise how insignificant but special we are on this tiny planet, driven by the natural forces of the Universe.

Unfortunately, when I returned from maternity leave, the reality was harsh. My colleagues at the World Benchmarking Alliance were right in the middle of an intense research cycle of the Nature Benchmark, which tracks and measures how companies are reducing their negative impacts on nature and contributing to the protection and restoration of ecosystems.

How overwhelming it was to find out that the majority of the world's most influential companies are so disconnected from nature! Most companies we assessed in the benchmark do not yet really understand how they affect nature, or how their operations rely on it. This is worrying, as it means that companies cannot strategically manage and prioritise their actions on nature. Although some companies have started to assess their impacts and dependencies, they often only cover a fraction of their operations or don't publish the results. They also tend to focus on land or freshwater, neglecting the ocean (71% of the Earth's surface, by the way).

This blind spot for companies can have serious consequences for both the planet and people, particularly in the Global South, where many of the world’s biodiversity hotspots are located, and where issues such as water scarcity and biodiversity loss are often felt most acutely.

There are enough reports out there flagging (for years and years) that we are experiencing a biodiversity crisis; a million species are on track to be lost forever – many within decades. The good news is, we can attempt to reverse that. We have seen a few company examples out there that not only protect nature but also attempt to restore it.

To achieve a healthy planet and liveable future for all inhabitants, we need to see accelerated action from all those who hold the power - corporates, governments, investors, consumers... you. Yes, you do hold power too. Today, as we publish new data and results of the Nature Benchmark, I invite you to take a look at them and reflect on your relationship with nature, and whether your company has ever explored its true impact on it.

Just like Gaudí observed, I believe the Nature Benchmark is not here to invent anything new, but rather, show the world what already exists. Our data and insights are just a humble attempt to put a mirror in front of the world, to give an objective and raw perspective of how the private sector is treating nature. If we want companies to protect and restore it, the first step is to measure and track the scale of the challenge, and then make all stakeholders aware of this so we can solve it together.

The Nature Benchmark is available here. All data, findings and other insights are free and publicly available.