In order to bring about the change at the scale needed for a global transition to a green economy, it is critical to reach beyond the environmental community. Macroeconomic and development policies in general, and trade and investment policies in particular, will need to be adapted to better reflect biodiversity values. Ongoing efforts at building bridges between different sectors of economic activity, such as through the Green Economy Coalition, which unites organizations working in diverse areas such as the environment, development, business, and labour, is an essential step in fostering an inclusive and far-reaching transition to a Green Economy.
Integrating biodiversity and ecosystem values into national budgets and financial plans can be a significant way of influencing macroeconomic policy. Raising awareness of the value of investing in natural capital can potentially help influential financial institutions such as the European Investment Bank to appreciate the role of biodiversity in regional planning and development. Such collaboration can build on existing efforts at carrying out strategic environmental assessments for different policies and projects. Again, the enhanced appreciation of the value of biodiversity and ecosystems in supporting economic activity can help guide impact assessment of a variety of policies, such as trade, urban development and land-use planning, as well as more specific projects such as large scale infrastructure projects (dams, roads, etc.).
Trade policies have a major influence on conservation, especially when they involve threatened and endangered species. Efforts such as those undertaken by TRAFFIC, which monitors wildlife trade to ensure that it does not further exacerbate pressures on biodiversity, are essential to finding the appropriate solutions whereby conservation is not jeopardized by macroeconomic policies and trends. On the other hand, there are also many opportunities for using trade as a means of supporting biodiversity-friendly enterprises, as is currently being carried out by the Union for Ethical BioTrade.
