Investor-led Nature Action 100 initiative plans to launch this summer with the aim to drive targeted investor engagement with companies and policymakers that are critical to the goal of reversing nature loss
The Nature Action 100 (NA100), a investor-led initiative supported by the Finance for Biodiversity Foundation, has announced its intention to launch this summer.
NA100 is a collaborative engagement programme for institutional investors and their representatives to engage with companies and policymakers deemed to be “systemically important” to the goal of reversing nature loss by 2030.
The organisers are currently scoping its governance structure and selecting partner organisations for coordination and to support operations. Investors interested in find out more about the programme are being asked to get in touch with the organisers.
“The corporate engagements will be designed to ensure that key companies are taking robust and timely actions to address their biodiversity impacts and dependencies,” the group said in a statement.
The investor group comprises AXA Investment Managers, BMO Global Asset Management (EMEA), BNP Paribas Asset Management, Church Commissioners for England, Domini Impact Investments LLC, Federated Hermes Limited, Karner Blue Capital, Robeco, Storebrand Asset Management, Vancity Investment Management, and others.
“As a founding partner, we are excited to support the new joint engagement initiative Nature Action 100 as it becomes a force in the market, challenging issues relating to the care of nature and encouraging biodiversity,” Bess Joffe, head of responsible investment for the Church Commissioners for England, said. “Nature Action 100 fits perfectly with our ‘Respect for the Planet’ commitments and we would urge other investors to join us in this venture.”
The investor group hopes that the programme will gain added momentum in the run up to the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP 15). NA100 aims to stimulate action from the financial sector and support the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework.
The second “in-person” part of COP15 has been postponed multiple times due to the impact of the COVID pandemic, but is now scheduled to take place in Kunming, China in October 2022.
New frameworks
Addressing biodiversity loss is fast becoming a key focus for financial institutions and investors, accelerating the need for effective frameworks for managing nature-related risks and opportunities.
Last month, the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) released a beta version of its nature-related risk-management and disclosure framework, the first integrated approach to incorporating nature-related risk and opportunity analysis into corporate and financial decision making, according to TNFD.
The release of the prototype framework will be followed by an 18-month consultation and development process involving a range of market players and stakeholders.
A further three beta versions are planned for release between now and February 2023, followed by a final release of the TNFD’s recommendations, scheduled for September 2023.
In parallel, the Partnership for Biodiversity Accounting Financials is working on developing a new accounting standard which they hope will make it easier for financial institutions to assess and disclose the impact on biodiversity of their loans and investments, as reported by Impact Investor last month.
