.png)
As I prepare to leave The Aotearoa Circle next week, I’m finding myself pondering words from Sir Rob Fenwick. He said, "We know what is happening, we know what we must do - now, we must simply do it." *
I keep returning to them not because they have been my guide for the past seven years but because they are now impossible for New Zealand to ignore.
Sir Rob co-founded The Aotearoa Circle because he understood nature is not a nice-to-have; it is the foundation upon which everything else depends. Our prosperity, our resilience, our communities, and our nation’s future are inseparable from the health of the natural world.
That was true when he wrote those words. It is even more true today.
Sir Rob's final message was not a plea for more understanding or another business case. It was not a call for another report, another strategy, or another conversation.
It was a call for action.
Since its inception in 2019, The Circle has landed over 30 workstreams and deliverables that have educated and informed, provided legal clarity, roadmaps, toolkits or outlined clear policy solutions. During that time, we have brought over 1,250 experts, business, and government leaders together to understand the challenges being faced and identify solutions for not just a response, but long-term resilience and enduring growth.
No debate is needed about ‘not knowing.’
We know that nature underpins our economy, and we know how critical restoring natural capital is to maintain production, retain market access and build enduring wealth.
We know our rivers, wetlands, forests and coastlines are under pressure. We know biodiversity continues to decline.
And we know that every year we wait, restoration becomes harder, more expensive, and more urgent.
Appreciating we have both short-term and long-term uncertainty in front of us I have three realisations I’d like you to sit with, consider and carry forward in your work.
Firstly, to recognise how the conversation has fundamentally shifted.
In 2019, many were still debating whether natural capital was a ‘thing’ and if nature mattered to economic prosperity.
Today, the scientific evidence is clear, the thought leadership is abundant, and we can now see the consequences of our current trajectory. Instead of being paralysed by the uncertainty, or kicking the can down the road, we need to accept and embrace that we are at a pivotal time to affect change. We are also better informed than ever about the opportunities that reversing nature loss can create for our businesses, communities and economy. This is an exciting possibility to act on, and the more we do, no matter how small, we can regenerate what we need for the long-term.
The question has shifted from, ‘why is nature important?’ to a cacophony of voices asking, ‘how can we act faster and fairer?’- that is, unlocking investment at the pace and scale for the restoration and protection of natural capital as well as delivering viable returns and creating enduring value for our economy.
My second realisation is - the private sector MUST lead the work. No matter how well intentioned our politicians are, they will be constrained by our political system that runs on short-term cycles and competing priorities.
Whilst the public sector has a stewardship responsibility and accountability and are involved in our work, Business also has a responsibility to its shareholders, employees, customers and communities to manage the risks that threaten its very ability to operate, invest and deliver returns both in the mid and long term. When so much of our economy depends on the health of our natural capital, the vested interest in protecting and restoring it is clear.
That action can then influence economic policy to account for climate and nature considerations and provides the conditions for cross party commitment for restoration and investment. With a united business sector and an informed public sector, we can make a difference.
My final realisation is this: We need to action the change we want to see.
The call for ‘leadership’ is a call to every one of us – not for ‘others.’ If we wait for the economy to be ‘fixed,’ for laws to come into effect, for global diplomacy to stabilise, for inflation to come down, or any other economic measurement - what further degradation, some irreversible, of natural capital will happen?
Let’s stop admiring the roadmap and start executing it. Let's stop celebrating intent and start measuring our actions. Let’s stop talking about the opportunities and start investing.
Let's stop acting as though another decade of discussion will somehow produce a different answer.
Nature does not need more admiration. Nature needs embedding in our day-to-day business decisions.
Because in all honesty, the greatest risk facing nature today is not that we don’t know what to do. It is that we are choosing not to do it.
It has been a privilege to serve The Circle as Chief Executive and I am so grateful to an incredible group of partners and individuals who have supported me. I have seen much impact from the work.
But at times it has also been a completely overwhelming role, an extremely frustrating role, and causing sheer disbelief.
We can do better. We should do better. And we have the tools to be better. Because if we wait for ‘perfect,’ we will lose any chance of ‘progress.’ Let’s own the challenge and lean in – because one truth remains - we know enough!
Ngā mihi nui,
Vicki Watson
Chief Executive
The Aotearoa Circle
*Sir Rob Fenwick, The Listener, March 2020
