The ecosystem marketplaceCarbon is just the beginning: will you be ready? |
Buoyed by growth in the global carbon markets especially in such a depressed economy, several organizations have identified ecosystem markets as a way to improve environmental conditions, corporate reputation and the financial bottom line.
Companies and communities alike are dependent on ecosystem services – defined as the tangible and intangible benefits derived from nature – and yet they are deteriorating at a rapid pace. The types of ecosystem degradation resulting from land-use change, resource extraction and current waste disposal practices are not only environmental issues, but also social and business issues.
The ecosystem marketplace has the potential to offer win-win-win solutions for companies, communities and the environment. Ecosystem markets represent a tool that companies can leverage as environmental conditions and changing societal expectations affect operations, supply chains, community relations and the financial viability of projects and products.
Companies who take the lead in this growing market will earn a distinct competitive advantage. By taking early steps to identify and manage natural capital assets, companies will be able to spot opportunities that will ensure environmental compliance is a revenue generator rather than a cost centre.
The ecosystem marketplace
