Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 2 hrs ago
Nature loss could put 140 million European jobs at risk
A Global Canopy analysis presented during the UN biodiversity conference in Armenia says nature loss could put 140 million European jobs at risk.
The jobs may be affected through reduced hours or wages, changes to workers’ duties or supply-chain problems.
In the UK, 20.6 million jobs are potentially at risk, while the estimates are 21.8 million in Germany and 16.3 million in France.
The analysis says €3.5 trillion in exports from the UK, EU and Switzerland could face disruption each year.
It also estimates that nature loss could reduce the availability of €8.2 trillion in goods and services annually, which could make some products harder to produce and more expensive to buy.
The findings highlight how economies depend on nature, and Global Canopy says governments, central banks and businesses should protect and restore it to strengthen economic resilience.
Global Canopy estimates that nature loss could put 140 million jobs across Europe at risk.
The figures include 20.6 million jobs in the UK, 21.8 million in Germany and 16.3 million in France.
The risks could include reduced hours or wages, changes to job duties and supply-chain disruption.
In a worst-case scenario, businesses that fail to adapt could go bankrupt and the jobs could be lost.
The analysis also estimates that €8.2 trillion of goods and services could face reduced availability annually.
- Who
- Global Canopy produced the analysis, which concerns workers and businesses across Europe.
- What
- Nature loss could put 140 million jobs at risk and disrupt goods, services and exports.
- When
- The data was published on 27 October 2026, during CBD COP17.
- Where
- Europe; the conference was taking place in Armenia.
- Why
- European economies and businesses depend on the infrastructure and resources provided by nature.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
edie reported that Global Canopy’s analysis estimated 140 million European jobs could be at risk from nature loss.
The data was published while the conference was taking place in Armenia.
- Jobs at risk across Europe
- 140 million
- UK jobs potentially at risk
- 20.6 million
- Germany jobs at risk
- 21.8 million
- France jobs impacted
- 16.3 million
- Exports potentially disrupted annually
- €3.5 trillion
- Goods and services with reduced availability annually
- €8.2 trillion
What people are saying
the vast number of livelihoods that could be disrupted given the huge dependence of national economies on the infrastructure that nature provides.
People worry about their jobs and living standards being affected by AI and global conflict. But how nature loss threatens employment, wages and supply chains deserves attention.