Jack Potter: Ground Control

In this episode, we speak to Jack Potter, the Biodiversity and Nutrient Neutrality Manager at Ground Control. Since launching in 1973, Ground Control has been focused on creating better landscapes, nurturing natural environments, and constructing spaces that bring people, places, and the planet together. With a vision to leave the world in a better place than we found it, Ground Control is committed to enhancing and improving the physical environment for all.

In this episode, we delve into the following topics:

1. The Global Biodiversity Crisis and the Realities of the Crisis in the U.K:

• The UK is at the very edge of environmental collapse, with only 50% of the UK's biodiversity remaining.
• The UK is ranked in the bottom ten percent of all countries globally, driven largely by government policy and incentives over the last century.
• However, with a shift in public perception, politicians are also starting to take notice.
• As a result, the UK government has created the Environmental Act and is pushing for biodiversity net gain in the UK, an approach to development that leaves biodiversity in a better state than before.

2. The Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD):

• The TNFD has been created to develop and deliver a risk management and disclosure framework for organizations to report and act on evolving nature-related risks.
• The ultimate aim is to support a shift in global financial flows away from nature-negative outcomes and toward nature-positive outcomes.

3. The 2022 United Nations Biodiversity Conference:

• We discuss the significance of these conferences and the impact and challenges on biodiversity conservation efforts and sustainable development.

4. Biodiversity as an Industry:

• Biodiversity as an industry is in its infancy, especially in the UK.
• Measurement is difficult to assess with no universal measurement of impact and net gain.

5. Big Businesses Davos, and COP:

• We discuss the challenges that big businesses face in living up to the big promises they made at COP and Davos and the importance of them stepping up to the challenge.

6. Biodiversity Credits:

• Similar to carbon credits, biodiversity credits can help businesses meet their biodiversity objectives, particularly when many of them don't own green spaces.

7. Government and Biodiversity Management:

• We discuss the need for governments to do more, particularly in terms of funding and support for local governments who are often ill-equipped to handle the full-scale recovery needed in the UK
• We also emphasise the realities of the cost of living crisis and the importance of businesses getting involved and supporting biodiversity conservation efforts.

Chatting with Jack was an absolute pleasure, and our hope is that this episode inspires you into your own form of action - because we can't change the world without changing ourselves.

As always, the podcast is available on Apple, Acast, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts.

So, sit back, tune in and enjoy!

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