WWF Annual Review 2021 - 8

F OR E WOR D
T
he age of wisdom, the age of foolishness.
Words written by Charles Dickens a
century and a half ago but with a deep
resonance today as humanity faces a critical
choice and a dangerous paradox: that while the
knowledge, desire and opportunity to reverse the
loss of nature and stabilize the climate strengthens
by the day, the terrifying environmental crisis
driven by harmful human activities deepens. How
humanity, and the natural world we rely on for our
well-being and survival, will fare in the coming
century depends on the choices we make now.
As we start to emerge from the worst of the
COVID-19 pandemic, we cannot return to business
as usual. Instead, we must create a new normal
that puts people and planet first. A decisive decade
of action and beyond is needed to tackle the root
cause of the crisis: the unsustainable development
model that both destabilizes essential natural
systems and undermines equitable social and
economic progress.
Report after report strengthens the case for
nature-positive action as well as shines a spotlight
on the terrible price to be paid by humanity if
warning signs go unheeded - our health, food,
water security and livelihoods depend on a healthy,
stable and productive natural world. The World
Economic Forum's Global Risks Report 2021
shows that environment-related risks - including
inaction to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
and biodiversity loss - are now recognized as the
biggest challenges facing humanity.
Addressing the climate and nature
crises is not only an ecological issue, but in
turn also an economic and health issue. And an
equity and justice issue for today's most vulnerable
communities as well as future generations.
Never has it been clearer that we need to transform
what is perhaps the most crucial of our relationships:
the one with nature.
INCREDIBLE MOMENTUM
So it's been truly energizing to see the unprecedented
growth and unity of purpose of voices for nature in
the past year - from individual attitudes to the global
policy stage, from political leaders and business and
finance institutions to faith groups and human rights
organizations. This year's " Eco-wakening " report by
the Economist Intelligence Unit for WWF revealed
a dramatic rise in numbers of people concerned
about nature loss, particularly in emerging and
developing economies. And a growing global alliance
of organizations and governments, including more
than 90 heads of state, now support a global
goal to reverse nature loss by 2030.
It is also exciting to witness the convergence of
the climate, nature and sustainable development
agendas, as the evidence mounts regarding the
interdependence between nature and human wellbeing.
How, for example, 39 million new jobs could
be created if governments reallocated to a naturepositive
stimulus just one year's worth of subsidies
that currently harm biodiversity. And the way
countries are increasingly recognizing the value
WE NEED A
DECISIVE DECADE
OF ACTION
THE SCIENCE HAS NEVER BEEN CLEARER ON THE CLIMATE AND NATURE
CRISES. AWARENESS ACROSS SOCIETY HAS NEVER BEEN GREATER OF THE
RISKS TO PEOPLE AND PLANET. POLITICAL AND CORPORATE COMMITMENTS
HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE AMBITIOUS. BUT URGENT TRANSFORMATIVE
ACTION IS NOW NEEDED IN THE COMING DECADE AND BEYOND.
WWF INTERNATIONAL 2021
https://www.weforum.org/reports/the-global-risks-report-2021
WWF Annual Review 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of WWF Annual Review 2021
