A new World Bank report, Reboot Development: The Economics of a Livable Planet, highlights how restoring natural systems is not only possible but also highly profitable. According to the report, 90% of the world’s population lives with degraded land, unhealthy air, or water stress. In low-income countries, the situation is even more severe, with 8 out of 10 people lacking access to all three — clean air, safe water, and healthy land. The consequences are staggering. The loss of forests disrupts rainfall patterns, dries soils, and worsens droughts, costing billions of dollars annually. Overuse of fertilizers, while boosting crop yields in some regions, has led to what the World Bank calls a “nitrogen paradox.” Mismanagement of nitrogen contributes to ecosystem damage and reduced agricultural productivity, with costs estimated as high as $3.4 trillion each year. Meanwhile, air and water pollution continue to harm public health, lower productivity, and limit human potential. Yet, the report also emphasizes solutions and opportunities. If managed wisely, nature can create jobs, drive economic growth, and strengthen resilience. For example, efficient use of natural resources could cut pollution by 50%. Smarter fertilizer practices could generate 25 times greater benefits than their costs while improving crop yields. Expanding access to safe water and sanitation could save millions of lives, especially among children, while “pollution markets” have proven to be highly cost-effective — every $1 invested can return between $26 and $215 in benefits. World Bank Senior Managing Director Axel van Trotsenburg summarized it best: “This report offers a new lens for looking at environmental challenges — not as constraints, but as opportunities for smarter development.” Countries that have managed to grow without worsening environmental degradation show that success lies in three areas: