S4E17: The $2.6 Trillion Question: How to Make Public Money Work for Nature

What if the trillions of dollars governments spend every year are actually accelerating the depletion of our most critical natural resources?

In this episode of Sustainability Forward, we are joined by Lucy Coast, Global Communications Director at Business for Nature. We explore the staggering reality of environmentally harmful subsidies and how reforming these financial incentives can make the resilient choice the commercially rational one. Lucy shares her insights on bridging the gap between global businesses and policymakers, the importance of the Global Biodiversity Framework, and even a memorable encounter with Sir David Attenborough.

What You’ll Discover

- The $2.6 Trillion Problem: How public money across agriculture, fisheries, and energy often unintentionally rewards resource depletion and what can be done to redirect it.

- Nature as the Ultimate Supply Chain: Why resource security is economic security, and how businesses are waking up to the fact that their future depends on healthy ecosystems.

- Designing Fair and Predictable Reform: Why successful incentive reform isn't about abruptly switching off support, but rather phasing in changes alongside the communities and businesses they affect.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that we don't necessarily need to find new money to solve our ecological crises - we just need the money already in the system to work smarter. By aligning public spending with long-term sustainability, we can create an economy where both businesses and nature thrive.