Thisyear has seen a stunning collapseof ambition when it comes to assuring a sustainable future. Populism, short sightedness and scientific ignorance deserve blame. But so do the cost-of-living crisisand deepening inequality; environmental goals are often the first casualty of economic stagnation. Governments and businesses should know better. Nature loss, volatile energy prices and air pollution all undermine productivity. Fail to address such issues and the resulting spiral will be vicious. So why is the business case for protecting nature not stronger? Or at least more familiar, made more forcefully, more regularly and by more captains of industry?