Ecosystem degradation could result in severe economic loss and diminished global output, leading countries to commit to conserving at least 30% of the world’s land and oceans by 2030.Japan has disseminated several plans and initiatives to promote nature-positive actions by businesses, with innovation on the rise.Public-private initiatives in Japan demonstrate how a coordinated national effort can drive both environmental stewardship and economic resilience.
The impact spans eight key sectors, including food production, consumer goods retail, forestry and mining. These projections align with a 2021 World Bank report estimating that global gross domestic product (GDP) could fall by $2.7 trillion annually by 2030.
These findings underscore the urgent need for coordinated action across borders and sectors.
Global 30 x 30 action
At the 2016 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15) in 2022, countries adopted the global “30 by 30” target – to conserve at least 30% of the world’s land and oceans by 2030.
Since then, various parties have advanced concrete actions to meet this goal. For example, in Thailand, a citizen-led initiative known as the 30×30 Thailand Coalition has developed national guidelines to promote conservation across public, private and community levels.
In Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Panama, the Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Corridor was established as an intergovernmental framework that supports the protection and sustainable use of marine biodiversity.
Meanwhile, in Japan, the Ministry of the Environment developed the 30 by 30 Roadmap in 2022.
The plan outlines specific goals for 2030, including expanding and improving the management of protected areas such as national parks, designating and managing “Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs)” and enhancing the visibility of biodiversity conservation efforts.
Policy initiatives in Japan
With just five years remaining until 2030, efforts are accelerating in Japan.
In July 2025, the Ministry of the Environment released another roadmap for transitioning to a nature-positive economy by 2030, outlining actions stakeholders are expected to take to achieve national biodiversity goals.
The roadmap is structured around three pillars:
Fostering community development that leverages local natural capital.Scaling up nature-positive business practices.Strengthening global competitiveness through multi-stakeholder collaboration.
To further support information sharing, the government launched the Nature-Positive Portal in August 2025, a digital platform designed to disseminate the latest policy developments and encourage knowledge exchange between the public and private sectors.
Corporate action and innovation
Corporate engagement is central to building a nature-positive economy.
Since the release of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) framework in September 2023, which allows companies and financial institutions to report on their impacts, dependencies, risks and opportunities related to nature, the number of Japanese companies adopting nature-related disclosures has grown rapidly.
“
By conserving biodiversity and restoring natural capital, Japan is safeguarding the very foundations of human well-being and unlocking new pathways to sustainable, inclusive growth.
”
Through sustainable forest management, responsible timber sourcing and biodiversity protection across its value chain, Oji aims to contribute to ecosystem restoration and long-term environmental resilience.
Using satellite imagery and Japan’s largest biodiversity database, “BiomeDB,” the partnership is developing advanced technologies for large-scale, continuous monitoring of vegetation and wildlife. These tools will transform how natural capital is understood and managed, enabling more effective and data-driven conservation strategies across Japan.
Why transition to a nature-positive economy
The World Economic Forum’s 2020 report, The Future Of Nature And Business, highlights that more than half of global GDP is at risk due to nature loss. Public–private initiatives in Japan demonstrate how a coordinated national effort can drive both environmental stewardship and economic resilience.
By conserving biodiversity and restoring natural capital, Japan is safeguarding the very foundations of human well-being and unlocking new pathways to sustainable, inclusive growth.
Achieving a truly nature-positive economy will require bold and coordinated action, uniting governments, businesses and communities to build a future where economic prosperity and ecological integrity reinforce one another.
Discover
How the Forum helps leaders align climate action with nature-positive growth
Show more
The Centre for Nature and Climate helps leaders make sense of the interconnections between climate, nature and economic development. It provides a platform to explore pathways that support resilience and prosperity within planetary boundaries.
By enabling cooperation across sectors and regions, the Centre supports partners in translating shared understanding into practical climate and nature solutions.