In her recent Quarterly Essay, titled Highway to Hell, author and climate change scientist Joelle Gergis says: “For most people just trying to get on with their lives, thinking about climate change feels too complicated and overwhelming, especially in an era of war, pandemic and financial pressure.”
But what if our environmental storytelling wasn’t all bad? What if government and organisations could find effective, clear and meaningful ways to demonstrate the difference they are making for climate and nature?
Because, right now, around Australia and the world, there are organisations, governments and companies doing great work protecting, managing and restoring nature.
We have the ability to measure, record and describe these efforts and the outcomes they produce. By doing this we can shift the dial on the environmental narrative, talking about what’s being done and what we are achieving. This is especially important if we want to:
- determine where to invest to generate the greatest benefit for climate and nature
- scale up and coordinate our efforts
- create real, measurable change.
Using a common language
But first, we need to start using a common language. At the moment, we tell our environmental stories in different ways, often confusing our audience and creating uncertainty for nature investors. Starting from the same base, using the same terminology, will help us all get on the same page.
The basis of the common language is the System of Environmental Economic Accounting (SEEA) – the international standard for natural capital accounting, currently used by 92 countries around the world.
In the same way that financial accountants can tell the story of a business’s performance using tools like a balance sheet and a profit and loss report, we can use natural capital accounting to help us tell environmental stories.
Applying the SEEA allows us to:
- establish a baseline of nature and biodiversity in a particular area
- monitor improvements or decline over time
- plan for, report on and mitigate climate and nature risks
- understand our performance in relation to ESG responsibilities
- draw on accurate data to inform decision-making and investment
- communicate our environmental efforts in measurable, transparent ways to wide range of audiences – including internal and external stakeholders, investors, funding bodies and the community at large.
Of course, we can’t fix nature and climate by applying the SEEA alone. But we can use this tool to understand where to concentrate our efforts and how we are performing.
Want to see an example of effective environmental storytelling in action?
Check out this case study of the natural capital accounts we compiled for Cassinia Environmental. It shows how Cassinia’s positive environmental impacts have grown.
Connect with us to discuss how natural capital accounting can improve environmental storytelling for your organisation. We offer a free, 30-minute discussion with our Director, Mark Eigenraam, to discuss the use of the SEEA as a common language to tell your nature and climate story.
You are welcome to connect with us, no matter your level of experience in the natural capital space. We work with everyone from the beginner to the seasoned professional, supporting the natural capital journey for organisations of all shapes and sizes.
