The Nature Brief for Business.

The Big Picture

Regulation is tightening, with the ECB warning lawmakers not to dilute CSRD rules and courts clamping down on greenwashing claims. Corporate action on deforestation is mixed: Coles steps forward while Woolworths retreats. Finance is scaling across regions, from Brazil’s biodiversity platform to Abu Dhabi’s blue bond.

Key movements this week:

• Biodiversity credits are gaining traction but need stronger price stability and standards.
• Nature tech is accelerating with AI, MRV, and ecosystem platforms scaling globally.
• Carbon markets are expanding fast, with ETS, Article 6, and REDD+ integration shaping climate policy.

Market Essentials

Finance

• The Net Zero Banking Alliance paused activities while considering a restructure. The shift reflects headwinds in aligning finance with net-zero targets.
• Paraná state in Brazil launched a platform expected to mobilise R$100m annually for conservation projects. The model highlights regional innovation in private biodiversity finance.
• UN talks in New York advanced work on the High Seas Treaty’s financial foundations. The discussions signal new global mechanisms for marine conservation funding.
• Peru’s Indigenous-led J-REDD+ program is projected to raise around $200m. The initiative demonstrates the scale of Indigenous leadership in climate finance.
• First Abu Dhabi Bank issued a $50m blue bond for ocean and freshwater projects. The instrument expands financial tools for marine biodiversity.

Targets

• Coles Group pledged to eliminate deforestation from key commodities for in-house brands by year-end. The move sets a supply chain precedent in Australia and could shape government reforms.
• Woolworths reversed its no-deforestation commitment for beef. The decision reflects industry lobbying pressures tied to EU import rules.
• SBTN proposed expanding its freshwater targets to cover wider impacts. The initiative points to a more comprehensive framework for corporate water stewardship.
• Nestlé, PepsiCo, and Unilever joined a new roadmap for deforestation-free palm oil in Aceh, Indonesia. The collaboration aims to safeguard critical habitats while accommodating palm expansion.

Reporting

• ECB President Christine Lagarde warned lawmakers not to weaken CSRD requirements. The intervention underscores EU resolve to keep sustainability disclosures rigorous despite political pushback.
• A Colorado verification firm launched an AI-powered soil mapping tool approved by Verra for ALM. The innovation is expected to improve carbon quantification accuracy and scalability in agriculture.

Trend Watch.

Biodiversity Credits

• A study has warned that price volatility could stall biodiversity credit markets. The authors urged public measures to stabilise uptake and investor confidence.
• The UK allocated funding to develop standardised metrics under the Woodland and Peatland Codes. The goal is to enable credible biodiversity valuation across landscapes.
• Tsavo National Park in Kenya is turning to biodiversity credits after a $7.8m US grant was cut. The shift underscores reliance on new funding channels as traditional aid declines.

Nature Tech

• A US firm launched an AI-powered soil mapping tool approved by Verra for ALM. The technology allows more precise data collection for agricultural carbon credits.
• Researchers in Japan and Taiwan completed East Asia’s first enhanced rock weathering pilot. The test marks a regional step in scaling mineral-based carbon removal.
• Mitti Labs’ digital MRV platform now covers 10m ha of Indian rice farmland. The system aims to generate high-quality credits while cutting methane emissions.
• Scientists published a risk framework for deep-sea mining in the Norwegian Arctic. Regulators can use it to assess environmental impacts of emerging ocean industries.
• Earthshot Labs launched LandOS, a digital ecosystem assessment tool. The platform enables project developers to screen land quickly for carbon and biodiversity potential.

Nature & Net-Zero

• Analysts forecast voluntary carbon credit prices could rise nine-fold by 2040. Oversupply is expected to end in the mid-2030s, creating long-term scarcity.
• An Argentine province is seeking $25/t minimum for J-REDD+ credits. Officials are optimistic about acceptance under CORSIA and Article 6.

Quick Hits.

Policy:

• Eight Amazon nations signed the Declaration of Bogota, backing the Tropical Forest Forever Facility. The agreement supports a non-market approach under Article 6.8 of the Paris Agreement.
• Brazil updated its TFFF concept note with tighter eligibility and stronger IPLC rights. The changes strengthen governance and Indigenous participation.
• Vietnam’s draft forest carbon decree drew criticism for unclear rights and safeguards. Analysts warn the gaps could deter investor participation.
• Indonesia plans to sign a mutual recognition agreement with Plan Vivo in September. A similar deal with the Global Carbon Council is also nearing completion.
• Indonesia will make extended producer responsibility mandatory for plastic packaging in 2025. Producers will have to finance waste recovery and recycling.
• A UK report warned nature loss could cost the economy 4.7% of GDP by 2030. The analysis stresses urgent private sector action.

Markets:

• New Forests acquired part of an Australian beef farm and is weighing carbon project opportunities. The move reflects growing investor interest in agriculture-linked offsets.
• Sarawak, Malaysia, signed forestry carbon cooperation deals with a Finnish tech firm. The partnership will deploy advanced geospatial tools for forest monitoring.
• Ocean carbon removal company Planetary signed $31m worth of offtake deals with buyers including Google, Stripe, and H&M. The contracts confirm strong corporate demand for ocean-based removals.
• Ecosecurities announced partnerships for Article 6 projects in Rwanda. The firm is targeting compliance-linked international carbon markets.

People:

• Peru’s Indigenous-led J-REDD+ program expects to generate ~$200m in proceeds. The initiative highlights the role of Indigenous leadership in scaling finance.
• UNDP in Sri Lanka launched a livestock insurance scheme to cut human–wildlife conflict. The plan provides compensation to protect leopards and farmers.
• A new initiative in Eswatini is promoting gender equity in conservation. The program also supports implementation of the country’s biodiversity strategy.
• Norway pledged increased direct funding to Indigenous communities in Brazil. The move reflects international recognition of their conservation role.

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The Nature Brief for Business.

The Big Picture

Global finance remains conflicted as $8.9 trillion still flows into deforestation-linked activities even while new multi-billion pledges back forest restoration and Indigenous-led projects. Regulatory adjustments are reshaping disclosure obligations, with the EU easing reporting burdens and Asia emerging as a leader in corporate nature integration. Meanwhile, biodiversity credit markets are expanding but face scrutiny over weak verification, and nature tech breakthroughs in AI and sensing are rapidly redefining monitoring credibility.

Key movements this week:

• Biodiversity credits are scaling through new frameworks and pilots, but market credibility is undermined by limited independent verification and uneven standards.
• Nature tech is moving fast from pilot to deployment, with AI, remote sensing, and advanced MRV tools cutting costs and strengthening integrity in carbon and biodiversity markets.
• Nature and net-zero strategies are converging, as evidence of land carbon losses drives innovation in removals, from biochar and ERW to fungi-focused restoration, with wildfires adding new urgency.

Market Essentials

Finance

• A new Global Canopy report finds $8.9 trillion was channelled to the deforestation economy by 150 financial institutions in 2024. The scale of investment highlights systemic risk exposure despite net-zero pledges.
• The UK government is planning to mobilise $500 million for Amazon conservation in Peru by 2027. Financing will flow through mechanisms including habitat banks, thematic bonds, and payments for ecosystem services.
• Institutional investors have committed only $11.5 billion to natural capital, or 0.2% of combined assets. Analysts argue this highlights a significant gap between rhetoric and action on nature-positive investment.
• Everland and BNP Paribas announced a $50 million partnership for Indigenous-led projects. The direct financing model targets high-impact initiatives certified under the Equitable Earth standard.
• The Brazil Restoration and Bioeconomy Coalition pledged $2.6 billion toward forest restoration and Indigenous bioeconomy projects. The commitment represents major progress toward its $10 billion 2030 goal.

Reporting

• The EU announced plans to streamline sustainability reporting rules to reduce administrative burdens. Critics warn simplification risks weakening biodiversity safeguards, while businesses welcome eased compliance obligations.
• Australian and New Zealand timber producers are preparing for the European Deforestation Regulation. Despite uncertainty on implementation dates, sectors are investing in supply chain transparency to protect market access.
• The TNFD praised Asian companies for demonstrating “incredible leadership” on nature disclosures. Executives highlight the region as a global front-runner in embedding nature into corporate risk management.

Trend Watch.

Biodiversity Credits

Nature Tech

• A Royal Society study found 8 of 11 biodiversity credit suppliers lack independent verification. Weak oversight raises integrity concerns and calls for more rigorous market standards.
• CAR Cundinamarca in Colombia officially recognised habitat banks as conservation tools. The move enables environmental compensation quotas to generate voluntary biodiversity credits.
• A farm near the Norfolk-Suffolk border is converting arable land to wildlife habitats. The Coney Weston Habitat Bank project plans to sell Biodiversity Net Gain units, creating a new income model for farmers.
• AI-driven remote sensing tools are being deployed in the Philippines for rice farming. They identify low-methane regions, offering pathways to cut agricultural emissions.
• Wyke Farms in the UK launched an AI-based birdsong monitoring pilot with Chirrup.ai. The initiative tracks biodiversity to inform regenerative agriculture practices.

Nature & Net-Zero

• New research shows human activity has depleted global soil and vegetation carbon stocks by 25%. The emissions rival all fossil fuel releases since the mid-1970s, underscoring land-use urgency.
• A UK study suggests scaling quarries could boost ERW efficiency. Expanded extraction sites may enable 700 million tonnes of CO2 removals by 2070, though social opposition remains.
• The Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism body will debate non-permanence standards in September. Resolving reversal risk is critical to unlock Article 6 carbon trading.
• Global Forest Watch data finds wildfires overtook agriculture and logging in 2023–24 as the main driver of forest carbon loss. The findings highlight compounding risks from climate change.

Quick Hits.

Policy:

• Norway has granted coral reefs ‘selected habitat’ status, requiring special consideration in development.
• South Africa’s draft tax reform would recognise removals and raise penalties for over-emitters by 2026.
• India’s Deep Ocean Mission achieved a 5,002m dive, amid global scrutiny on deep-sea mining impacts.

Markets:

• US carbon prices rallied after ICVCM approved IFM and biochar methodologies for the CCP label.
• Congo Basin credits projected to reach $30/t highlight growing investor confidence in tropical ecosystems.
• Papua New Guinea secured its first major REDD+ results-based payment.

People:

• Himachal Pradesh in India will develop 77 ecotourism forest sites to balance environment and livelihoods.
• The Equator Prize honoured 10 Indigenous and community-led organisations for nature-positive solutions.
• Advocates warned that a new Philippines land management framework risks greenwashing and Indigenous land threats.

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The Nature Brief for Business.

The Big Picture

Corporate green claims are under rising scrutiny, with lawsuits challenging “carbon neutral” marketing. Private equity shows major disclosure gaps, with only one of 150 top firms committing measurably to address nature loss. At the same time, countries are leaning on carbon markets to finance ambitious emissions and biodiversity targets, while finance flows into restoration, bonds, and divestment continue to build momentum.

Key movements this week:

• Biodiversity credit markets hit new milestones but still face integrity challenges.
• Nature tech is scaling fast, with AI, eDNA, and agroforestry research opening fresh pathways.
• Net-zero strategies increasingly tied to nature-based solutions, though risks remain for unproven ocean carbon removal methods.

Market Essentials

Finance: Capital mobilising around restoration and green assets.

• Brazil announced $5.6 billion to restore 1.4 million hectares under its Eco Invest auction programme. This demonstrates how sovereign-led initiatives are attracting international capital for large-scale land recovery.
• Analysts project that Amazonia bonds could reach $120 billion in issuance over five years. The scale highlights investor appetite for innovative debt instruments tied to deforestation and biodiversity outcomes.
• Danske Bank divested over 85% of its fossil fuel holdings due to weak transition plans. The move frees up capital for low-carbon investments and signals mounting financial pressure on lagging emitters.

Targets: Countries raise ambition, leaning on carbon markets.

• Cambodia pledged to cut emissions by up to 55% by 2035 under its third NDC, with financing tied to carbon markets. The plan shows how developing countries are relying on market-based mechanisms to close resource gaps.
• The Solomon Islands committed to a 34% emissions reduction by 2035, drawing on REDD+ and Article 6 finance. The target mirrors Cambodia’s strategy of anchoring ambition in international support flows.
• Bhutan launched a restoration programme aiming to recover 50,000 hectares of degraded land through a blended finance package. This highlights how small nations are leveraging partnerships to scale land-use goals.

Reporting: Corporate environmental claims face sharper legal and disclosure tests.

• Apple is defending against a proposed US class action claiming its “carbon neutral” marketing misled consumers. The case underscores growing legal and reputational risks around unverifiable corporate green claims.
• A new study found only one out of 150 major private equity firms has a measurable, time-bound commitment to tackling nature loss. This points to a major disclosure gap in one of the world’s most influential investor classes.
• South Korea’s Naver will align with TNFD and partner with the National Institute of Ecology to strengthen ecosystem conservation. The move signals corporate uptake of nature reporting frameworks in Asia’s tech sector.

Trend Watch.

Biodiversity Credits

• Environmental standard Cercarbono is preparing to issue the first biodiversity credits to a Colombian project. The milestone demonstrates early market activity but leaves questions on liquidity and scalability.
• Australia registered its first project under the government’s Nature Repair Market. This marks an important regulatory signal for biodiversity credits backed by state oversight.
• A European Forest Institute brief flagged risks including vague baselines, leakage, and lack of a universal metric. Without stronger governance, these issues could undermine credibility as the market scales.

Nature Tech

• New research highlights bird populations as valuable indicator species for biodiversity credits in agroforestry. This approach could sharpen measurement and improve integrity in credit assessments.
• The UK’s first airborne eDNA survey detected more than 1,100 species across varied habitats. This breakthrough illustrates how non-invasive technologies can expand biodiversity monitoring at scale.
• A climate tech startup in India became the first to secure carbon credits for sustainable rice farming. This proves the potential for tech-enabled agricultural practices to deliver certified climate benefits.

Nature & Net-Zero

• UK scientists warned against scaling ocean-based carbon removal until more research is conducted. The finding reflects growing caution on biodiversity impacts from untested marine technologies.
• Legal experts urged regulation of marine CO2 removal methods under international conventions. This guidance stresses the need for governance frameworks to balance climate ambition with ocean risks.
• The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market awarded its top integrity grade to biochar and improved forest management methods. The decision validates these approaches as credible pathways to carbon removal.

Quick Hits.

Policy:

• Belize launches first national blue carbon pilot and debates carbon bill.
• Brazil drafts Article 6.2 policy while president sanctions bill easing licensing.
• Taiwan issues forest carbon guidelines.
• Laos holds first OECM dialogue.
• 23 US state attorneys general warn SBTi and financiers of antitrust risks.
• Plastic treaty talks stall as producer nations block progress.

Markets:

• Article 6 credits move closer to CORSIA eligibility.
• Philippines bamboo project registered under Verra VM0047, a regional first.
• Nepal targets $75m from forest carbon projects by 2028.
• Paraguay launches BIOFIN branch with UNDP support.

People:

• Soil health research remains skewed to Global North, leaving gaps in Global South.
• Blue carbon developer pledges revenue-sharing agreements with communities.

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The Nature Brief for Business.

The Big Picture

Nature-related finance and disclosure frameworks are accelerating, with new tools and legal interpretations driving corporate transparency across global supply chains. Financial institutions are raising their climate and nature ambitions, while policy moves in biodiversity markets, tech, and carbon removal reinforce nature’s central role in climate strategies.

Key movements this week:

• Biodiversity credit markets are expanding, with new frameworks and subnational pilots emerging.
• Nature tech is scaling globally, with applications in carbon removal, compliance, and monitoring.
• Nature and net-zero integration is deepening, from restoration funding to carbon policy alignment.

Market Essentials

Finance: Innovation and investment flows expand across carbon, nature, and clean energy.

• Carbon insurance is shifting from niche add-on to a core element of carbon removal project finance. It is increasingly used to transfer delivery and policy risk off corporate balance sheets and unlock capital.
• APG has announced a $640 million investment into Octopus’ renewables platform in Australia. This deal highlights robust investor confidence in scaling clean energy infrastructure.
• Chile has added a biodiversity metric to its sustainability-linked bond framework. This move ties sovereign debt performance to ecosystem protection goals, setting a precedent in nature finance innovation.

Targets: New standards and bold corporate commitments show rising ambition across finance and tech.

• NatWest has doubled its climate finance ambition to £200 billion by 2030. The new target includes transition finance, reflecting a broadened commitment to decarbonisation across industries.
• Deutsche Bank recorded its highest sustainable finance quarter since 2021, reaching €28 billion. The results move the bank closer to its €500 billion goal by 2025 and underscore momentum in ESG lending.
• Two agribusinesses from Morocco and Brazil have committed to restoring 100,000 hectares in the Cerrado. The project addresses Brazil’s most deforested biome and demonstrates growing corporate engagement in ecosystem recovery.

Trend Watch.

Biodiversity Credits

• A UK brownfield developer is advocating for biodiversity credits to restore landfills. The model could turn degraded lands into viable habitats while unlocking revenue for landowners.
• The state of Parana in Brazil has issued a call for reserves to join its new biodiversity credit market. With backing from a development bank, the pilot marks a major step toward subnational nature finance.
• Japan’s new nature-positive roadmap includes a call for aligning biodiversity credit standards with international frameworks. This signals Tokyo’s ambition to participate in a globally interoperable credit system.

Nature Tech

• Wind farms in Southeast Europe are adopting AI-powered bird detection systems through a new partnership. The technology helps prevent collisions and supports compliance with the EU Green Deal and Natura 2000 rules.
• Guyana and Yale have partnered to launch a national biodiversity data platform. Built on the Map of Life system, it offers open-access species data to support conservation planning.
• The UK and France has launched its first satellite designed to track CO₂ emissions across cities and forests. The satellite will provide detailed data for verifying emissions reductions and shaping net-zero strategies.

Nature & Net-Zero

• The EU and UK have formally integrated carbon removal into climate policy frameworks. The EU will certify nature-based credits by 2026, while the UK will add engineered removals to its ETS by 2029.
• Brazil has released plans to increase CO₂ removals via nature recovery by 147 MtCO₂e by 2035. This supports its climate goals while investing in ecosystem restoration.
• Papua New Guinea has filed its first REDD+ project since lifting its moratorium. The effort aims to generate 16 million carbon credits and re-establish forest conservation finance in the country.

Quick Hits.

Policy:

• Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan in talks to protect saiga antelope, creating new cross-border habitats.
• Queensland designates Australia’s first OECM site for long-term conservation.
• Kenya drafts new carbon registry law, following Article 6.2 deal with Sweden.
• Ecuador announces first Amazon connectivity corridor, aiding species migration.

Markets:

• Carbon credit retirements hit 95 million in H1 2025, with 57% rated high integrity.
• CORSIA futures hit new record highs, driven by compliance demand.

People:

• New initiative aims to onboard 3 million Indonesian farmers into EUDR compliance.
• EIA report reveals mercury trafficking to Amazon, tied to gold mining and deforestation.

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The Nature Brief for Business.

The Big Picture

As 2025 continues to unfold, market activity around nature, climate, and finance is intensifying. Regulation is in flux, with the EU and Australia facing different ends of the preparedness spectrum. Leading corporates are upping their disclosure game, while biodiversity credit markets and nature tech continue to accelerate. At the same time, major funding flows are backing large-scale nature-based carbon removal and forest restoration projects globally.

Key movements this week:

• The EU moves toward streamlining environmental reporting, while TNFD-aligned reports gain traction.
• Financial institutions face new net-zero benchmarks, with bold targets emerging from banks and big tech.
• Billions are being mobilized into forest restoration and carbon removal, from Brazil to the US.
• Biodiversity markets gain structure and leadership across Latin America, Australia, and Southeast Asia.
• New tools are reshaping how nature is mapped, measured, and monetised.

Market Essentials

Reporting: Regulators are simplifying environmental disclosure mandates, while TNFD adoption grows , though readiness gaps persist.

• International Paper has published its first TNFD-aligned sustainability report. The report outlines the company’s dependencies and impacts across forestry operations and land use.
• The EU Commission has launched a “Call for Evidence” for an omnibus proposal to streamline environmental rules. It targets areas such as industrial emissions, waste regulation, and permitting to reduce red tape.
• A new Australian survey reveals 43% of companies are unprepared for mandatory climate reporting. These requirements take effect this year under new sustainability disclosure mandates.

Finance: Capital flows and financial innovation are unlocking large-scale nature and carbon markets.

• Chestnut Carbon secured $210 million in project finance for US-based afforestation. The facility is tied to Microsoft’s long-term offtake deal for 7 million tonnes of carbon removal credits.
• A Brazilian finance coalition has pledged $2.6 billion for forest restoration and the bioeconomy. That represents over a quarter of its $10 billion 2030 goal.
• LEAF Coalition reports an emissions reduction payment pipeline worth nearly $2 billion. The program currently covers 174.19 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent.

Targets: New standards and bold corporate commitments show rising ambition across finance and tech.

• SBTi has released its new FINZ Standard for financial institutions, requiring fossil fuel phaseout by 2030. The standard mandates banks to end project finance for new fossil fuel ventures immediately.
• NatWest has committed £200 billion to climate and transition finance by 2030. This includes investments in renewables, energy efficiency, and green buildings.
• Google signed a deal with a CO2 battery firm for long-duration storage. The Italy-based technology partner will support Google’s move toward carbon-free energy round-the-clock.

Trend Watch.

Biodiversity Credits

• The International Advisory Panel on Biodiversity Credits (IAPB) has appointed its first executive director. The appointee previously led finance initiatives at the UNDP and will shape market guidance.
• The North Yaque Water Fund in the Dominican Republic has launched a call for biodiversity credit market proposals. It aims to run three pilot credit projects by 2028, focusing on watershed services and agroforestry.
• An Australian investment firm seeks to raise A$50-70 million for offset credits in New South Wales. It plans to participate in the state’s established Biodiversity Offsets Scheme targeting land restoration. 

Nature Tech

• AI analysis has revealed that carbon removal research is four times more extensive than previously thought. The study identified more than 4,000 peer-reviewed papers across 30 removal methods.
• ICE has added biodiversity metrics to its climate risk platform through a UK tech partner. The integration includes habitat loss indicators and species richness data for investment risk models.
• The BeeConnected SUDOE project has secured over €1 million in funding. It will connect fragmented habitats and monitor wild bee populations in southwestern Europe.

Nature & Net-Zero

• A new study finds that restored peatlands regain key climate functions within ten years. The sites showed changes in albedo, vegetation, and moisture consistent with net climate cooling.
• A UK developer forecasts that high-quality carbon removals could reach £500 per tonne by 2050. The estimate applies to credits offering verified carbon, biodiversity, and social co-benefits.
• New research shows global forest carbon sinks hit a 20-year low due to wildfires and deforestation. Carbon uptake from forests dropped by 75% in 2023 and 2024, sharply reducing their cooling potential.

Quick Hits.

Policy:

• Armenia announces dates for 2026 UN biodiversity talks.
• Ecuador enacts new law to strengthen national protected areas.
• China is set to include blue carbon in its next Five-Year Plan (2026–2030).

Markets:

• England’s biodiversity net gain (BNG) market is projected to reach nearly £3 billion by 2035.
• Verra seeks funding for new methodologies and program development.
• Lloyds launches Carbon and Nature Markets Practice to expand its sustainability offerings.

People:

• New study highlights Afro-descendants’ lands reduce deforestation by up to 55%.
• Queenstown Airport and local trust restore 1,222 hectares for a biodiversity corridor in New Zealand.
• Amsterdam is set to install canal steps to help animals escape drowning.

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