• Funding Commitment: £7.2M allocated to the International Nature Positive Economy Programme, targeting sustainable development in low and lower-middle income nations.
• Private Sector Disclosure: Focus on equipping financial institutions and businesses to manage and disclose nature-related financial risks.
• Policy and Action Plans: Governments will receive tools and frameworks to embed nature-based decision-making and mobilize financial flows for environmental restoration.

The UK Government has committed £7.2 million to help developing countries transition to nature-positive economies. The International Nature Positive Economy Programme, announced by Treasury Lords Minister Baroness Penn at the CBD COP15 conference in Montreal, will support nations in embedding nature-focused decision-making into their economic frameworks.

“Nature is a key underpinning of the global economy, and failing to reverse biodiversity loss could have major knock-on effects for development, food security, and health,” said Baroness Penn.
“By helping countries put nature at the heart of their decision-making, we’re building a sustainable global economy that also protects the world’s poorest communities.”

Related Article: UK Accounting Watchdog Recommends ISSB Standards for Sustainability Reporting

Programme Goals:

1. Private Sector Disclosure Readiness:
   Financial institutions and businesses in low and lower-middle income countries will be equipped to manage and disclose nature-related financial risks, aligning with the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) framework.
2. Integrating Nature at Country Level:
   Governments and regulators will gain the knowledge and tools to create policies that manage nature-related risks, unlock new markets, and rebuild natural capital.
3. Action Plans for Nature:
   Partner nations will develop financial plans to guide public and private funding toward the protection and restoration of ecosystems.
4. Evidence Sharing Mechanisms:
   The programme will facilitate evidence-sharing to inform economic and financial decisions, creating communities of practice and robust knowledge-sharing platforms.

The initiative will be delivered in collaboration with the UNDP’s Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BioFin) and Financial Sector Deepening Africa (FSD Africa), reinforcing global efforts to preserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable economic growth in vulnerable regions.

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