Evidence of environmental damage was “no longer abstract, technical or distant”, said NRW’s chair Neil Sachdev.
“It is visible on our doorsteps: flooded homes, polluted rivers, failing soils, collapsing wildlife, unaffordable energy bills, rising food costs, and communities living with growing risk and uncertainty.
“Let us be clear, incremental change will not save us. We cannot regulate our way out of this. We cannot recycle our way out of this,” he said.
Derek Walker, Wales’ future generations commissioner, said restoring nature was “a literal life-and-death issue, and everyone has a role in it”.
The report was “essential reading for NRW itself, but also for economists, financial planners, land managers, health professionals, ministers and decision-makers,” he said.
“The strongest levers for change sit in the decisions we make across public policy, investment and delivery, not only within the environmental sector.”
Climate Change Secretary and Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies said the report’s “robust assessment of the challenges facing our natural environment” would “play an important role in the development of our future natural resources policy in Wales”.
“Protecting and enhancing nature is essential for people today, and for future generations,” he said.
“The people of Wales have made real progress but we need to go further again.
“This report sets out how we can work together to respond, strengthening action to restore nature, tackle pollution and build resilience to climate change,” he said.
“The Welsh government will lead this work alongside partners across the public sector, business and communities to turn evidence into meaningful action.”