Global Competetiveness Report

Natural Capital
Overview
Natural Capital Sustainability
The potential for sustaining natural capital as a basis for sustainable development is composed
of two main factors: the characteristics of geography and climate, combined with the extend
of human activities that have or will affect the ability of natural factors to sustain the population
and the economy.
Because the natural capital is as it is, it is problematic to improve or change. While it takes little
to impair or deplete the natural capital, rebuilding or improving natural capital factors is difficult,
and requires significant time and resources.
The natural capital sustainability map below indicates a certain correlation with the level of
human activities and population density. Large countries with a comparably small population
density and rich biodiversity are on top of the Natural Capital ranking (North America,
Scandinavia, Brazil). A large number of countries located in tropical areas (at the intersection of
Central and South America, West Africa, South-East Asia) also seem to have the potential to
achieve sustainable development based on their respective natural capital.
The top ten according to natural capital indicators contains some surprising and not well known
countries like Suriname, Guyana, and Laos - whereas the OECD’s representation in the top
twenty is limited to Canada, Finland, Denmark and the USA. The ranking of China (133) and
India (160) are affected by a combination of arid climate, high population density, and high
pollution levels.
The Natural Capital Map: Dark colour indicates high Natural Capital, light colour limited natural capital
The Global Sustainable Competitiveness Index
31