Global Economy's Focus on Growth Exacerbates Nature Deficit, Warns UNEP

Date: February 10, 2026

A recent report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has issued a stark warning: the global economy's relentless pursuit of growth is accelerating a dangerous "nature deficit," with potentially catastrophic consequences for the planet and the global GDP.

The UNEP report highlights that the world is increasingly running out of cheap and high-quality sources of essential materials like oil, copper, and gold. The extraction and production of these resources demand ever-increasing volumes of fossil fuels and freshwater, creating a cycle that is "far beyond what is likely sustainable," especially with growing populations and prosperity in developing nations.

This "nature deficit" is not just an environmental issue. The World Economic Forum's Global Risks Report 2024 identifies biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse as one of the top three risks over the next decade, potentially resulting in a decline in global GDP of $2.7 trillion annually by 2030. Moreover, a previous WEF report noted that $44 trillion of economic value generation – over half the world’s total GDP – is potentially at risk due to dependence on nature and its services.

The UNEP report emphasizes the concept of "decoupling" – improving resource productivity ("doing more with less") at a faster rate than economic growth. While some developed nations show signs of stabilizing resource consumption, the report cautions that they may have simply exported more resource-intensive processes elsewhere. Meanwhile, resource consumption in developing economies is "steeply on the rise." The path forward, according to UNEP, requires urgent action towards "absolute decoupling" of environmental impact and economic growth, which the agency describes as crucial for "the survival of human civilization."

Additionally, UNEP's "State of Finance for Nature 2026" report reveals a dire financial imbalance: for every $1 invested in protecting nature, $30 is spent on activities that destroy it. This highlights the need for a significant shift in financial flows. Suggested actions include reviewing public subsidies, integrating the costs of ecosystem degradation into product pricing, and incorporating the value of nature into credit risk analysis to foster greener economies.

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