Sustainability to Action to Lead the Natural Capital Coalition UAE Regional Platform

“Abu Dhabi, 17 April, 2019: We are proud to announce that Sustainability to Action will lead the Natural Capital Coalition Regional Platform in the UAE. The launch of the UAE Regional Platform is taking place today, 17 April 2019, during the Fifth Annual Abu Dhabi Sustainable Business Leadership Forum 2019, which is held by the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Group in the capital city Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

Speaking at the event, Sandra Anani, Director Sustainability to Action said: “Natural capital is about the assets that nature provides us for free. Valuing natural capital means we can understand the role of the environment as the key input into our economy. We are proud to work with the Natural Capital Coalition in the UAE to help organisations measure and value their impacts and dependencies on natural capital.

The Natural Capital Protocol provides a framework for businesses to identify, measure and value their direct and indirect impacts and dependencies on natural capital and we look forward to sharing knowledge and practical know-how through the Natural Capital Coalition Regional Platform in UAE”.

The UAE joins a global network including USA, Australia, South Africa, Brazil, Spain and Colombia.

Natural Capital Coalition

The Natural Capital Coalition is an international collaboration that unites the global natural capital community.

The Coalition is made up of almost 300 organisations (and engages many thousands more) who together represent all parts of society and span the global economy. Coalition organisations have united under a common vision of a world that conserves and enhances natural capital.

The Coalition is working to develop and encourage an international ‘enabling environment’ for natural capital approaches. This environment will cultivate the climate necessary to support the transition to a society in which the natural capital approach is an integral part of public and private decision-making.

Regional Platforms

A Regional Platform is a collaboration of interested parties coming together at a national, sub-national, regional or local level to advance natural capital thinking.

Regional Platforms connect leaders and leading initiatives to ensure that the right people are communicating across the system, and will provide a space for geographic and context- specific challenges and opportunities to be discussed among stakeholders.

The work and conversations taking place in the Platforms will be fed back to the global Coalition, to inform their collective, global strategy and inspire the international community.

Mark Gough, Executive Director, Natural Capital Coalition commented, “We are delighted that Sustainability to Action will lead the UAE platform for the Natural Capital Coalition. Platforms like this one will serve to bring natural capital thinking into practice all around the world, and strengthen its relevance across different contexts. We have greatly enjoyed working with businesses in the region throughout the past year, and I am extremely happy to see this evolve and grow with the collaboration with Sustainability to Action.”

Find out more about the Coalition’s Regional Platforms here.

Sustainability to Action & the UAE Natural Capital Platform

Our objective is to:

• Collaborate with businesses, not-for-profits and government bodies to promote the understanding, incorporation and commitment of the Natural Capital Protocol in their day-to-day work and decision-making processes.

• Raise awareness and advance efforts related to measuring, valuing and sustainably managing natural capital to support business decisions and outcomes within the UAE.

• Establish a network of businesses and organisations in the UAE who will be better able to share knowledge and experiences in integrating natural capital into decision making, as they address sustainability issues.

• Address how natural capital tools can support efforts to implement circular economy approaches.

About Sustainability to Action

Sustainability to Action (STA) is a group of consultants and associates based in Abu Dhabi and the UK who are experts in business responsibility in the areas of sustainability, corporate responsibility, materiality, stakeholder engagement, communications and behaviour change through social engagement.

STA’s team work with stakeholders to embed and integrate responsible business practices in organisations by providing insight and consultancy services, training, coach-mentoring and thought leadership.

For more information, please contact:

Sustainability to Action Communications Officer:

Mobile: +447525781327

Email: info@sustainabilitytoaction.com

Website: www.sustainabilitytoaction.com

Invitation to join the UAE Natural Capital Platform

This network is aimed at decision makers within UAE businesses, government bodies, science & academia, NGOs and membership organisations

It will consist of:

• Quarterly updates via a natural capital newsletter

• A webinar & podcast series on natural capital issues – in English and Arabic

• Bi-annual workshops offering practical, hands-on information & support on natural capital issues ​

You can register your interest in joining the UAE Natural Capital Platform and receive a newsletter and details of events, at Sustainability To Action.