State of Finance for Nature

United Nations 2 years ago

The State of Finance for Nature Restoration Finance Report tracks public and private finance to restoration Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and compares these flows with investment needed to achieve global restoration goals (1 billion hectares to be restored by 2030) under the Rio Conventions. The report aims to provide policy makers, businesses and financial institutions with an evidence-based snapshot of the significant gap between current finance flows to restoration and investment needed to tackle ecosystem degradation.  Key findings include that restoration finance needs to quadruple from 2022 levels of US$64 billion to US$296 billion by 2030 to reach global restoration targets while contributing to climate and biodiversity goals. Governments provide almost three-quarters of finance for restoration, but there are opportunities for private finance to invest in NbS through biodiversity and carbon credits, regenerative agriculture and impact investing. NbS are cost-effective solution to tackle ecosystem degradation, providing biodiversity, climate and livelihood benefits in an integrated manner.
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layersDaily Sustainability Digest

Published about 9 days ago



Financial institutions are accelerating sustainable construction by aligning lending with measurable environmental performance. Santander UK’s decision to adapt mortgage models for Octopus Energy’s Zero Bills homes integrates credit policy with energy-efficient buildings, translating net zero carbon ambitions into mainstream financial metrics. This shift signals the emergence of whole life carbon assessment as a determinant in property valuation and positions embodied carbon and life cycle cost analysis as standard tools of risk management across the sector.

Digital transformation is amplifying the movement. The Monklands digital hospital project in Scotland demonstrates how offsite manufacturing, lifecycle assessment and connected data platforms enhance building lifecycle performance, minimise waste, and verify embodied carbon in materials. Durham’s adoption of digital planning and assessment tools reflects a broader drive toward resource efficiency in construction and environmental sustainability in construction. Together these initiatives redefine sustainable building design by embedding whole life carbon accountability into design and delivery workflows.

Policy remains an enabling force but the centre of momentum is shifting from government mandates to operational proof. A renewed national emphasis on green affordability and the integration of social equity with decarbonising the built environment are reinforcing the transition toward net zero whole life carbon outcomes. These developments illustrate a maturing circular economy in construction where sustainable building practices, low carbon design and eco-design for buildings converge to deliver verifiable carbon footprint reduction. The industry’s direction is now measurable—kilograms of CO₂, minutes saved, resources reused—evidence that green construction is evolving from aspiration to tangible low carbon building performance.

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