Nature was recognized as the foundation of economic prosperity, climate resilience, water and food security, and human well-being. Yet, despite underpinning productive economies, stable supply chains, and financial systems, the benefits of ecosystems remained largely invisible in economic and financial decision-making. As biodiversity loss, water stress, and land degradation increasingly translated into economic and financial risks, the discussion highlighted the need to treat nature not as an externality but as a strategic asset.

Against a backdrop of growing climate impacts, geopolitical uncertainty, and pressure on public resources, the event underscored the importance of recognizing the economic value of natural capital to strengthen resilience, safeguard development gains, and support long-term economic security. Natural capital accounting and valuation approaches were discussed as tools to help governments, businesses, and financial institutions better understand their dependence on nature, assess policy and investment choices, and identify opportunities to protect, restore, and sustainably manage ecosystems.

The side event brought together policymakers, multilateral development banks (MDBs), and natural capital experts to explore how natural capital information could inform practical decisions. The discussion examined emerging methodologies for integrating ecosystem services and natural capital into economic appraisal, national planning, public investment, and financial risk assessment. It also considered the role of MDBs in helping countries develop the evidence, tools, and institutional capacity needed to apply these approaches.

The event further explored how natural capital approaches could support implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework by helping countries track progress, identify priority investments, and mobilize greater financial flows toward nature-positive outcomes. Particular attention was given to robust metrics, natural capital accounts, and decision-useful data to attract private investment, inform nature-finance taxonomies, and support credible business models and financial products linked to ecosystem services.

The session emphasized that investing in nature was not only an environmental imperative but also a strategic investment in resilience, economic security, stability, and sustainable growth.