How can the world shift from a negative discourse of looming ecological disaster to a more positive, solutions-oriented discourse? The Better Nature initiative (formerly called ‘Conservation Futures’) offers a support platform to accelerate innovative ideas in the field of law, finance and technology to change the rules of the game in favour of environmental regeneration.
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In 2017, the Luc Hoffmann Institute and the United Nations Environment Programme co-created this initiative to explore fresh perspectives and new approaches to nature conservation, aiming to work with key actors to mobilise the most promising innovations.
Who we are working with
Related SDGs
Explore the impacts
Ideation
The Luc Hoffmann Institute uses the three-horizons approach with broad representation (sectoral, age, geographic) to generate an innovative design for this initiative.
Incubation
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Oxford Martin School, and the Luc Hoffmann Institute jointly publish a thought leadership publication on the initiative.
The Luc Hoffmann Institute and UNEP convene global actors from the communication, finance and technology sectors.
The Luc Hoffmann Institute refines the initiative in a global review process with 100 experts.
Erik Solheim, the executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme, endorses and sponsors the setup of the initiative, opening and presiding over its founding meeting in Nairobi.
“Better Nature aims to secure a central place for nature and natural resources in new and emerging conceptions of human development. It is designed to contribute to the global efforts underway to accelerate the delivery of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As such, Better Nature is closely working with UNDP to explore adequate mechanisms for future collaboration.”
– Achim Steiner, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme.
Acceleration
The initiative receives support from the Italian government and with this launch funding the Luc Hoffmann Institute is able to give the initiative formerly known as Conservation Future its own wings as an independent ‘Better Nature’ initiative with its own website and led by champions Mark Halle, Randall Krantz and Ben Metz.
Better Nature. A political-economic system in support of nature
The independent initiative receives a EUR 400,000 grant from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to take the initiative forward and establish a core team of three innovators. UNDP acknowledges the role of the initiative in contributing to the delivery of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
The longer-term aspiration: healthy nature is central to all human activity.
Related resources
Conservation Futures: joining the dots
An April 2018 thought piece by Adrian Dellecker, Head of Strategy and Development (ad-interim) at the Luc Hoffmann Institute.
Conservation Futures, purpose and design
A February 2018 thought leadership publication by the Luc Hoffmann Institute, the United Nations Environment Programme, and the Oxford Martin School on the Better Nature initiative.
Conservation Futures aims to drive radical new thinking on biodiversity conservation
An October 2017 news article on the United Nations Environment Programme website describing the initiative as driving radical new thinking on biodiversity conservation.