Nature Conservancy’s Jennifer Morris focuses on the global food system and climate change

Climate Week & Nature's Role

• Jennifer Morris identified climate change as a central topic at the UN General Assembly, emphasizing that nature must be "front and center" alongside energy solutions.
• Morris stated that while energy is critical, nature represents 30% of total global emissions; failing to address this makes the 1.5°C Paris Agreement target impossible to achieve.
• Agriculture drives 80% of global deforestation and accounts for 70% of global water production, making it a primary sector for immediate intervention.
• Discussions included emerging technologies like cell-based proteins, with Morris noting that while innovative, these solutions are long-term and cannot replace immediate agricultural transition needs.

Organizational Strategy & 2030 Goals

• Morris consolidated TNC's 46 initial priorities into a focused set of "2030 Goals" to create a clear elevator pitch and align the organization with business-like KPIs.
• Carbon Target: TNC aims to directly save three gigatons of carbon from entering the atmosphere annually (equivalent to roughly 650 million gas cars).
• Land & Ocean Target: The organization aims to save 650 million hectares of land, an area twice the size of India.
• Morris noted TNC now utilizes dashboards and data tracking to ensure accountability, similar to corporate standards.

Financial Innovation: Debt-for-Nature Swaps

• Over 60% of developing countries are in debt distress, limiting their ability to fund climate resilience and conservation.
• TNC has executed four debt-for-nature swap transactions in Seychelles, Barbados, Belize, and Gabon, refinancing $1.2 billion in sovereign debt.
• These transactions unlocked $400 million specifically for conservation funding while reducing debt burdens for participating nations.
• Belize Case Study: The swap reduced Belize's debt burden by 11% and improved its credit rating, preventing an imminent default.
• The deals offer investors market-rate returns linked to commercial impact, prompting TNC to urge the World Bank and IMF to adopt similar sustainable lending instruments.
• Partners like the Pew Charitable Trusts have also adopted this model, recently executing a major swap in Ecuador.

Corporate Engagement & Risk-Taking

• TNC adopts a "problem-solver" approach, choosing to engage directly with industries (e.g., cattle, fisheries) rather than simply campaigning against them.
• Pacific Island Tuna Joint Venture:
  • TNC co-founded "Pacific Island Tuna" with the government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands to disrupt over-harvesting.
  • Requirements include 100% camera surveillance on boats and mandatory on-shore offloading to measure bycatch.
  • Financial Model: 100% of long-term profits are reinvested into the Marshall Islands for resilience and community development.
  • Commercial Partner: Walmart signed on as the first customer, seeking to solve industry-level sustainability issues without halting production.
• Morris emphasized TNC's willingness to take financial and reputational risks in these partnerships, acknowledging that not all initiatives succeed but requiring honest learning from failures.

Leadership, Diversity & Background

• Morris's career path shifted from intended public health work to conservation after observing in Namibia that community health crises were directly linked to environmental distress (water scarcity, lack of firewood).
• She spent 23 years at Conservation International before becoming TNC President 3.5 years ago.
• TNC is prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) by focusing on cultural retention of diverse staff, not just hiring numbers, to align conservation outcomes with community needs.