The World Business Council For Sustainable Development (WBCSD) Action 2020

Action2020 is the WBCSD’s primary platform for business to help the world achieve a sustainable future. Numbering close to 200 across all sectors and regions, WBCSD member companies can have real impact on global challenges. Over the next few years, the WBCSD will shape its activities around Action2020’s nine Priority Areas. It will work with and for its members to support them in their efforts to contribute to reaching the Societal Must-Haves, and ultimately, Vision 2050.

Healthy ecosystems provide the same services and benefits as man-made infrastructure at lower cost. 

The Problem: Infrastructure spending amounts to roughly 3.8% of global GDP, equivalent to US$2.6 tirllion in 2013 and needs will grow to US$3.4 per year through to 2030.

The Solution  Natural Infrastructure (NI) in many cases, can provide the same services and benefits as man-made infrastructure and at a lower cost. A well-functioning ecosystem can deliver the equivalent water availability and filtration, flood control and shoreline protection as major physical infrastructure projects. Indeed investing in ecosystems is often cost-competitive with man-made infrastructure investments for equivalent services.

The Business Case

• NI investment is cost-competitive. Investing in natural infrastructure is often cost-competitive with “gray infrastructure” investments. For example, on one of Dow Chemical’s sites, an industrial wastewater treatment plant would cost $40 million, but a 110-acre engineered wetland providing the same filtration services would only cost $1.4 million. That’s over 95% cheaper for the same benefit.
• It appreciates. Natural infrastructure appreciates over time as the ecosystem evolves and becomes richer and 
more resilient, whereas gray infrastructure degrades over time, inevitably requiring repair or replacement in 
30-50 years.
• It’s cheaper to prevent than to cure. Mangroves and coral reefs can protect the shoreline from storm surges or erosion, acting as sea walls or levees to protect communities and corporate sites located on the coast. This service is worth billions of dollars annually in terms of avoided damage and replacement costs.
• It fits into a “no regrets” climate adaptation approach. While natural infrastructure can safeguard against a wide range of climate impacts, it makes sense anyway given its financial viability and multiple co-benefits for communities.
• It’s flexible. This is a cross-industry, cost-effective solution, which can be applied at a specific site, region or 
value chain.
• It’s been done before—successfully. One of several examples is in the 1980s, Vittel (Nestle Waters) successfully worked with upstream farmers to improve watershed health and protect water supply in France.

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