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WWF's Living Planet Report 2016 shows the scale of the challenges we face regarding the future of our planet - and what we can do about it. The Living Planet Index reveals that global populations of fish, birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles declined by 58 per cent between 1970 and 2012. But if humans can change the planet so profoundly, then it's also in our power to put things right. This report provides possible solutions - including the fundamental changes required in the global food, energy and finance systems to meet the needs of current and future generations.

The events of 2016 have underscored just how volatile, complex and ambiguous the world is today. Drawing on insights that we have collected around the world from thousands of interviews and engagements with stakeholders and consumers, we take a look at the global shifts that will continue to shape the world for leadership organizations in 2017.

"Just 14% of plastic packaging is collected for recycling globally, one third ends up in the natural environment and if current trends continue, by 2050 our oceans could contain more plastics than fish, by weight," says Rob Opsomer, lead of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's new plastics economy initiative. "We need to fundamentally rethink the way we produce, use and recover plastics, redesign plastic packaging and adopt common standards."

IKEA is launching a campaign aimed at persuading its customers to stock up on energy-efficient light bulbs while highlighting the company's commitment to stop selling nonefficient bulbs by 2016. "This is a sustainability campaign but also a brand campaign. We need to explain what we stand for and celebrate that," says Peter Wright, IKEA's UK and Ireland marketing manager

The paper industry is pushing back against the "paperless" workplace and trying to persuade corporate decision-makers that paper can be greener than you'd think. Sustainably produced paper doesn't harm the planet and is arguably better than technologies that produce electronic waste, industry reps say. "We have to be careful when we pin one product against the other and say it's better. It's a tricky thing to do if you don't have all the data to back it up," says Phil Riebel, president of industry group Two Sides U.S

Unsustainable agricultural methods have caused the planet's soil to release up to 70% of its carbon into the atmosphere -- and scientists say that restoring soil conditions might help to reabsorb that carbon and slow climate change. "If we treat soil carbon as a renewable resource, we can change the dynamics," says carbon-cycle expert Thomas Goreau

In a bid to appeal to eco-conscious consumers, McDonald's will start selling Rainforest Alliance-certified espresso and Marine Stewardship Council-certified fish sandwiches. "We feel there's a tipping point coming. We see the consumer starting to care. Consumer expectations are rising," explains Bob Langert, vice president of sustainability for McDonald's

Sustainable packaging and design is helping beverage brands promote themselves as eco-friendly without appearing less luxurious, write Fiona Bennie and Barbra Wright. Recyclable packaging can help, but it's only a first step. "[I]f we consider packaging in isolation from the rest of the system we will only ever manage to create minimal impact both financially and sustainably," they write.

To help ensure our purchases do not contribute to deforestation of the world's rainforests or negatively impact the communities that depend on them, we will source 100 percent of our palm oil from responsible and sustainable sources by 2015 (a commitment we first made in 2010).

We Mean Business describes itself as "a coalition of the world's most influential businesses calling for ambitious climate policy and bold climate action." The new group - a coalition of coalitions, really - aims to fill a void to counter well-heeled trade groups, think tanks and corporate lobbyists aimed at maintaining the status quo.

White House officials told lawmakers this week that while President Barack Obama's climate initiatives will not, in themselves, halt climate change, they nonetheless constitute an important first step towards more sweeping solutions. "The carbon-action plan is a start, and if we do not make a start, we will never get there," says White House science adviser John Holdren.

IF HUMANITY is to avoid dangerous climate change, we need to capture hundreds of billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide. But what to do with it all? There is no shortage of places to bury it (see "Trailblazing power plant is first to bury its carbon"), but we can at least put some of it to good use. A few start-up companies view CO2 as a resource rather than a waste product. They are using CO2 as the raw material for making products including superglue and fertiliser.

China is starting to get serious about tackling pollution and climate issues, and the fate of the rest of the world could depend on how good a job Beijing can do at mapping out a sustainable course for the future. "We need more of everything," says Chinese sustainability leader Peggy Liu. "Wind, solar, a modernized grid. We need to leapfrog over the past and into a clean-energy future."

If the global business community is to thrive in the long term - and carry us to that flourishing future we are trying to imagine and help build - it needs to continue to scale up the ambition and influence of its efforts. That's much easier said than done, of course, though we are seeing a number of encouraging trends within the Sustainable Brands community that, while still nascent, are promising to deliver a lot of value for years to come. 

At Disney, caring for our planet is at the core of who we are. From the characters and settings of our films, to our parks and wildlife, the beauty of nature has always inspired the many worlds of Disney. We believe that it is our responsibility to preserve this beauty for kids and families by using our resources wisely, and encouraging others to do the same.

As 2014 comes to a close and we launch into the new year with new ambitions challenged by changing operating realities, we share our most important lessons of the past year for the sustainable business community. The implications extend far beyond, of course.

Up to 14 percent of the world's cocoa and tea supply is grown sustainably. We are no longer "niche" but we are nowhere near there yet, says Tensie Whelan.

Procter & Gamble plans to begin blending cellulosic ethanol produced by DuPont into Tide Coldwater detergent. "We believe that actions speak louder than words in the area of sustainability, and this partnership with DuPont demonstrates we are doing just that," says Gianni Ciserani, P&G's global fabric and home care chief.

Should we invent big new things or deploy effective ideas that already exist? The conflict was neatly summarized by clean-energy entrepreneur Jigar Shah, in a message meant to push back against the announcement from Gates and his billionaire friends.

Humanity should stop pointing fingers and start finding solutions to climate change, writes astrophysicist Adam Frank. "While triggering climate change might not be our fault, not doing everything we can about it now that we know it's happening -- that would be our fault. Worse, it would be our failure as a species," he writes.