Natural capital – our ecosystems, biodiversity, and natural resources – underpins economies, societies and individual wellbeing. The values of its myriad benefits are, however, often overlooked or poorly understood. They are rarely taken fully into accountthrough economic signals in markets, or in day to day decisions by business and citizens, nor indeed reflected adequately in the accounts of society. The steady loss of forests, soils, wetlands and coral reefs is closely tied to this economic invisibility. So too are the losses of species and of productive assets like fisheries, driven partly by ignoring values beyond the immediate and private. We are running down our natural capital stock without understanding the value of what we are losing. Missed opportunities to invest in this natural capital contribute to the biodiversity crisisthat is becoming more evident and more pressing by the day. The degradation of soils, air, water and biological resources can negatively impact on...

Savings and investments form part of the central nervous system of a developed economy. The health of that system influences the behaviour and well-being of citizens and companies alike. The findings of this inquiry represent a vision of a better investment system, developed by those who work in it.

Paper by Mark Goyder: Capitalism is in trouble because stewardship is failing. The world needs shareholders whose priorities and behaviors are aligned with the long-term interests of the company, and with the health of the soil in which it is being nourished.