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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