Environment Secretary champions private investment in
nature recovery as the government launches a new call for
evidence (12 June).
Speaking to leading figures from financial institutions,
property, retail and sustainability sectors at a roundtable event
in London, the Environment Secretary emphasised the importance of
fostering partnerships between the public and private sectors to
support economic growth while powering nature recovery.
Businesses across the UK, whether in food and agriculture,
construction, finance, or retail, rely on a healthy natural
environment to operate, grow and innovate.
Whether powering our industries, safeguarding our food security
or protecting public health, over half of global GDP is highly or
moderately dependent upon nature. England's natural capital is
valued at £1.4 trillion and generates over £35 billion worth of
economic benefits annually excluding oil and gas, more than any
single manufacturing sector.
That is why more private sector investment in nature recovery is
vital. To help deliver that increased investment a new government
Call for Evidence has launched today seeking ideas from business
and investors - delivering a key recommendation of the Corry
Review and the commitments made in the Land Use Framework
consultation.
Environment Secretary said:
“Nature is essential to strong and sustained economic growth,
which is this Government's highest priority.
“Private investment will help us to protect and restore our
natural environment while creating new economic opportunities as
part of the Plan for Change.
“This is an exciting opportunity to hear from businesses,
investors, and other stakeholders on how we can work together to
increase investment in nature.”
Dr Rhian-Mari Thomas, OBE, CEO of the Green Finance
Institute, said:
“Unlocking the billions needed for UK nature restoration hinges
on effective revenue models. UK businesses, as buyers of
environmental outcomes, are crucial in creating those revenue
models, and we're looking forward to supporting Defra in better
understanding how we can encourage and support business
engagement.”
Andrew Walton, Chief Sustainability Officer, Lloyds
Banking Group said:
“As the UK's largest infrastructure finance provider, we know how
blended finance can help deliver a step change in private
investment to drive sustainable growth. We welcome the
Government's ambition on nature markets and the opportunity to
establish the UK as a global leader in this important area.
Robust standards, reliable data and long-term policy direction
are key to building confidence in the investment case for nature
and can place it at the heart of UK growth.”
The roundtable, hosted by Lloyds Banking Group and led in
partnership with the Green Finance Institute (GFI), brought
together leaders from across finance and business, including
leaders from Aviva Investors, Barclays, Barratt Homes and
more.
Defra will partner with the GFI to engage businesses on the call
for evidence and wider nature finance priorities –alongside
ongoing work with UK businesses to implement the recommendations
of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD).
Promoting investment opportunities in nature creates
opportunities for business growth across multiple sectors,
including farmers looking to diversify their revenues, agri-food
businesses securing supply chain resilience, insurers and water
companies reducing costs from floods, droughts, and pollution,
developers managing climate and environmental risks to new homes
and infrastructure, as well as growth in the tourism and
recreational sectors.
The meeting also discussed the next steps for the Big Nature
Impact Fund, the Defra-backed public-private blended impact fund
for nature. Finance Earth will act as sole fund manager and will
begin fund-raising soon. The Fund will invest in woodland
creation, peatland restoration and other habitat creation
projects that aim to maximise social and environmental impact by
funding the right activity in the right place.
The Call for Evidence will be open for responses until 10 August
2025.
ENDS Notes to
Editors:
· For more
information on the Call for Evidence, visit:
· In March, The
British Standards Institution launched the Government-backed
Nature Investment Standards, which will help nature-friendly
investments across the UK to grow by building confidence among
investors: New
world-leading nature finance standards launched to encourage
green investment - GOV.UK
· In April, the
Government launched a consultation on how to raise the integrity
of Voluntary Carbon and Nature Markets, which is open for
responses until 10th July: Voluntary
carbon and nature markets: raising integrity - consultation
document (accessible webpage) - GOV.UK
