Can we re-balance finance and nature?
Leading collective action to build a nature-positive future
Finance is a force of nature
Nature and finance are inextricably linked.
Allowing one to prosper at the expense of the other has had serious consequences for nature.
From plastic in our oceans to carbon emissions in the air, the unintended impact of economic activity on our environment is well documented.
It’s not too late to bring about lasting change for the better. But rethinking and rebalancing this relationship will take big fresh ideas and sustained collaboration.
To help, Deloitte is leading action across the business world, among our clients and beyond, to bring people together and unlock sustainable investment in ‘nature-positive’ solutions that will reverse the current nature-loss trend and move towards measurable improvement.
Investing in our natural world
From the air we breathe to the water we drink, the food we eat to the resources we extract, nature underpins our lives and economies.
Signs of nature’s decline in the UK include vanishing species and the erosion of our seagrass beds. Along with other factors, they’ve combined to make the country one of the world’s most nature-depleted nations.
While the situation is serious, decisive action and investment can forge a nature-positive future if we find a way forward urgently.
Research from The Green Finance Institute reveals a £44-£97 billion funding gap to achieve nature positivity by 2031, highlighting a shortfall that, it concludes, private investment must meet.
“In recent years, businesses have done more to understand and mitigate their impact on the natural world, with some going further and actively creating value through nature-based solutions,” says Deloitte UK’s sustainability services lead partner, Katherine Lampen.
“In the face of continued nature decline and a significant gap in the funds needed, private capital investment is a critical component.”
Emerging private financing mechanisms, like nature-linked bonds and nature-based carbon credits, offer promising solutions to channel corporate resources towards the natural world.
And innovative projects – such as Deloitte’s collaboration with Climate Impact Partners, Project Seagrass and the UK’s National Oceanography Centre to restore and unlock long-term financing for seagrass meadows – are examples of steps in the right direction.
But the scale of the challenge means much more needs to be done. The importance of this topic to the UK government is evident in the UK’s 2025 Infrastructure Strategy, which includes the natural environment as a priority focus.
In addition, the role of the private sector in nature recovery was consulted on by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in summer 2025.
A nature and finance symposium
In March 2025, over 90 clients and partners, committed to driving nature-positive change in the UK, attended Deloitte's Nature and Finance Symposium in its London Shoe Lane workspace.
“We brought people together to share expertise and ideas about how we can collaborate to unlock capital for sustainable change,” says Hollie Dunn, an assistant director at Deloitte.
Informed by the work of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), the symposium was an opportunity to prioritise collaborative solutions to address the connected environmental challenges facing our planet.
Highlighting the interconnectedness of issues including climate change, biodiversity loss, and health risks, this analysis champions integrated action to avoid the unintended consequences of siloed thinking.
“Securing a sustainable future will take long-term commitment with cross-sector effort that brings together businesses, governments and social impact organisations,” Hollie continues. “If we can do this, huge progress can be made.”
And while taking action is the right thing to do, it’s also good business.
Beyond ethical considerations, the risks associated with biodiversity loss include escalating commodity prices, job losses and resource scarcity. Conversely, a thriving natural world enhances resilience to shocks.
From profit to planetary health
An immersive 360-degree nature video experience in Deloitte’s LightBox installation set the event’s tone, reminding everyone of just what’s at stake: preserving nature for everyone.
A lively conversation and sharing of challenges and ideas showed delegates’ enthusiasm to make an impact.
Wide-ranging learning points discussed on the day included practical steps the sector can explore together:
Out with the old – rethink how we finance nature and move beyond traditional infrastructure for investments
Mirror our natural world – take a holistic approach that recognises nature’s intricate web and how seemingly disparate elements connect
Identify barriers to change – especially the challenges accessing development funding for pilot projects to invest in nature as a step towards solving them
Build a solid foundation – agree standardised metrics, proactive management frameworks and robust methodologies and guidance
Create the right tools for the job – develop sturdy and consistent payment instruments, such as biodiversity credits
Responding to overwhelmingly positive feedback, we’ll continue to work with attendees to explore, for example, ways to share best practice and collaborate on the key themes discussed.
While the path ahead is undeniably challenging, demanding sustained commitment and collaboration, the potential rewards are immense.
