Conservation International Vice Chair Harrison Ford says it best: "Nature doesn't need people. People need nature." Think about it. Could any of us survive without what nature provides us – freshwater, food, lifesaving medicines, fertile soil and natural pollinators? The answer is no. Today, the majority of people on Earth live in cities, seemingly far removed from the sources of our food, water, energy and material goods. Yet it is all interconnected: a massive storm in Asia or a drought in Africa can threaten the supply chains that Walmart customers depend upon. Walmart understands this and 10 years ago it led the way by embracing the concept of sustainability.
With its sustainability goals in renewable energy, zero waste and supply chains, it is an unparalleled leader in this area. As the world's largest retailer, when Walmart takes an action it can have a larger impact than many nations. Walmart has taken sustainability from an afterthought in the corporate board room to an integral part of its business plan. Other companies see this and are realizing that incorporating sustainability into their own plans is the smart way to do business.
I had the pleasure of speaking at Walmart’s Global Sustainability Milestone Meeting yesterday and I could see and hear the commitment of everyone in the room – from corporate leaders to associates – to the company's sustainability goals. We at Conservation International have had the honor of partnering with Walmart for 10 years and we look forward to many more decades of working together to protect the natural capital that we all depend on. I like to say that it is in the enlightened self-interest of nations, businesses, communities – all of us – to protect nature.
Over the next four decades, as the world’s population grows from seven billion to over nine billion, the demand for food, water and energy will double. Our already stressed planet will become more so as an increasing amount of nature's resources are depleted. At the rate we are going, we will need two Earth's to provide for us. Walmart understands the value of nature and can help spread the word to nations and other businesses so that they too will see the value and be willing to protect nature. More businesses and nations need to understand that there is a direct connection between nature, human well-being and our economic and national security. Who would have guessed 10 years ago that Walmart would become a global leader in sustainability? What an amazing evolution! What a gift to all the world.
Let me be clear: the challenge is daunting. Walmart has the opportunity, once again, to lead the way. Innovation must be at the heart of solving these problems and Walmart has the history of success, as well as the relationships with partners across the planet, to push the search for innovative solutions to ensure sustainable supply chains. I am optimistic about the future and the growing understanding that societies require, at their very foundation, a vibrant and healthy natural world. Focusing on ecosystem health and vitality is both good for business and truly in the enlightened self-interest of us all.