Ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in the Brazilian Amazon, Nature Action 100 published today its first status report highlighting the significant progress made by the initiative since its launch in 2022.
The Nature Action 100 Status Report covers the milestones that the world’s first and largest global investor-led engagement initiative on nature and biodiversity loss has achieved. The report also features key insights and case studies from investor participants who are engaging companies on nature action.
One area of progress noted in the report is the initiative’s growth. More than 50 new investors representing $5 trillion in assets under management and advice have joined Nature Action 100 since investor engagement started in September 2023. There are now over 240 investor participants – representing more than $30 trillion assets under management or advice – who are engaging 100 companies to take timely and necessary steps to protect and restore nature, as outlined in the Nature Action 100 Investor Expectations of Companies.
The number of investor participants underscores the growing interest by investors to acknowledge the financial materiality of nature and biodiversity loss and engage companies to mitigate financial risks and capitalize on new business opportunities.
Damage to critical ecosystem services is already impacting investment portfolios, business operations, supply chains, and corporate profitability across the world. Further damage is likely to cause compounding financial repercussions, which could impact long-term shareholder value and macroeconomic stability. Notably, a conservative estimate pins the economic cost of nature loss across Nature Action 100’s eight priority sectors – including food, forestry and packaging, and chemicals – at $430 billion per year globally, representing a cumulative loss of $2.15 trillion over five years if left unchecked.
Adam Kanzer, Nature Action 100 Steering Group Co-Chair and Head of Stewardship Americas, BNP Paribas Asset Management, said: “Nature Action 100 is delivering on its vision – bringing together a cohort of institutional investors to support corporate progress toward timely and necessary steps to protect and restore ecosystems while building corporate and systemic resilience. At BNP Paribas Asset Management, we are making progress in our nature engagements, and we look forward to continuing to support progress across sectors through our participation in Nature Action 100.”
Peter van der Werf, Nature Action 100 Steering Group Co-Chair and Head of Active Ownership, Executive Director, Robeco, said: “What sets Nature Action 100 apart from other nature initiatives is its unique focus on amplifying the investor voice. By highlighting the experiences and expertise of participants through case studies and investor insights, the initiative demonstrates the real value of investor involvement.”
The Nature Action 100 Status Report features five case studies illustrating the work of investor participants to engage companies on nature action across sectors. Among the early successes captured are progress by consumer goods companies in completing biodiversity impact and dependencies assessments; a large U.S.-based chemical company publishing its first report aligned with the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures’ recommendations in line with investor asks; and an investor participant using the Nature Action 100 Company Benchmark framework to conduct a gap analysis of a major mining company’s nature strategy.
In addition, the status report includes a snapshot of engagement progress. At least 75 investor engagement teams met with their investee companies in 2024, and many teams report that companies are recognizing the importance of acting on nature and developing plans to address nature-related issues among other areas of progress cited in the report.
As investor participants deepen their dialogues with companies, Nature Action 100 will continue to conduct periodic benchmark assessments to highlight further corporate progress and provide crucial insight into action across key sectors.
Mindy Lubber, CEO and President, Ceres, said: “In just a few years, it is encouraging to see how much Nature Action 100 has achieved – both in its growth as an initiative and in its role in supporting investors as they engage companies to adopt stronger business practices that improve nature’s resilience and economic stability. With our decades of experience working with the private sector on nature-related issues such as deforestation, land use change, and water pollution, Ceres looks forward to continuing its work to build more momentum on nature action.”
Stephanie Pfeifer, CEO, Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGCC), said: “Nature Action 100 plays a vital role in supporting investors as they manage the significant economic risks at a systemic and asset level, associated with nature and biodiversity loss and drive targeted nature-focused engagements. Since its launch in 2023, we have witnessed growing momentum, evidenced by increasing investor participation. While investors are still in the early stages of integrating nature-related financial considerations into their strategies, they are increasingly equipped to act. As an initiative partner, IIGCC will continue to support them in making meaningful progress in addressing nature loss.”
Anita de Horde, Executive Director, Finance for Biodiversity Foundation, said: “Finance for Biodiversity Foundation is proud to be a partner in Nature Action 100, as part of our mission to empower financial institutions to build knowledge, co-develop guidance, share best practices, and drive tangible progress for biodiversity. This first status report demonstrates the growing momentum within the investment community to address nature loss as a material financial risk and a source of opportunity. Together, we are helping to embed nature at the heart of financial decision-making.”
Read the Nature Action 100 Status Report here.