At Pollination we spend a lot of our time working on nature with corporates and with investors, and also finding ways to invest in nature-related opportunities and solutions. We find that many corporate leaders are still unsure of how to build their knowledge and begin developing their approach. We also see our clients and counterparties across industry engaging with nature for a variety of reasons – some are focussed on opportunities, and others on risk.

We wanted to understand more about how investors specifically are engaging with nature, as this is relevant not only for how we expect capital markets to develop but also for what will be asked of the companies we support. In a survey for our new Nature Finance Focus report, we asked 557 global investors who are working on and thinking about nature for their view on risks, opportunities, and challenges. We asked them what they were doing, why they were doing it, and where they were doing it. We also asked about some of the challenges and barriers they are facing.

Whether it’s the fractal patterns that make up a fern frond or the billions of genes that comprise a polar bear’s genome, we are accustomed to thinking about nature in terms of marvellous complexity.

That idea can be a powerful argument for why the natural world must be protected but there’s also a danger it can be a handbrake on the actions needed to do so.
Now that the Taskforce on Nature Related Financial Disclosures has released its final framework, the idea of shifting towards a nature positive future has become suddenly material for companies looking to strategise, manage risks and identify opportunities.