A new briefing launched recently by the Aldersgate Group calls on the government to align policy and regulation to enable business action that can unlock the economic and ecological potential of a nature-positive economy.
The UK stands at a pivotal moment for nature recovery. Bold leadership, clear frameworks and collaborative efforts are required to drive a transition from ambition to tangible delivery.
Nature is vital to the economy, with 55% of global GDP moderately or highly dependent on it.[i] However, successive UK governments have struggled to progress towards legally-binding environmental goals.
Nature loss presents systemic risks to businesses and the financial system, from disrupted supply chains to diminished economic growth. In contrast, investing in nature recovery offers significant opportunities in sustainability-linked markets and nature-based solutions.
Businesses are ready to invest in solutions that protect nature while driving growth, innovation and resilience. However, they need clear and actionable frameworks to align environmental goals with business operations, ensuring a level playing field and robust compliance mechanisms.
The briefing sets out specific actions the government can take to create an effective framework for delivery with the Environmental Improvement Plan, Land Use Framework and plans to meet key targets. Its findings reflect extensive engagement with businesses and environmental NGOs and the report features real-world examples of business action, highlighting the potential opportunities for business investment to protect nature while driving growth, innovation and resilience. Read the full list of recommendations in the Notes to Editors below.
Rachel Solomon Williams, Executive Director, Aldersgate Group, said: “To deliver a thriving economy and improved living standards in the future, the government must ensure that we protect and restore our natural environment. Nature underpins all the elements that enable businesses and people to prosper, including playing a crucial role in ensuring we can adapt to the impacts of climate change. The UK must deliver a policy landscape that maximises the ability of both the private and public sectors to restore biodiversity and guard against future environmental degradation.
Whitni Thomas, Head of Corporate Finance, Triodos Bank UK, said: “We’ve been actively developing new business models to finance nature-based solutions in the UK for a number of years now. It is clear that we will not begin to address the decline in nature, and associated ecosystems services essential to our economy, without concerted effort and significant investment. However, most important is a coherent and joined up plan for delivery of a wide range of vital measures. This paper from the Aldersgate Group lays out the job at hand and the interconnected steps needed to address the nature crisis in the UK.”
Karen Ellis, Chief Economist at WWF-UK, said: “The transition to a nature-positive economy is one of the biggest economic opportunities of the 21st century. However, to unlock private investment and action policymakers need to provide more clarity on how businesses and financial institutions are expected to contribute to national and global environmental targets. This report responds to this need by identifying key areas that policymakers and regulators should prioritise to accelerate the transition to a nature-positive economy.”
Duncan Price, Sustainability/Climate Global Lead at Buro Happold, said: “The preservation of nature is fundamental to societal and economic prosperity. Whilst recent developments in biodiversity policy are welcome, a clearer framework is needed to facilitate better business engagement and encourage more holistic measures on nature and its wider societal and economic benefits. Taking action on nature can deliver multiple business benefits, but certainty and clarity are needed to drive investment at scale.”