Embracing Nature in Corporate Strategy

One year on from the launch of the TNFD framework, integrating nature into corporate strategy is no longer just an option but an expectation for businesses committed to sustainability. In a commentary piece for Carbon Pulse, our CEO, Sebastian Leape, explores that while climate has been the primary focus so far, businesses are increasingly recognising that nature and climate are interconnected. Neither can be solved in isolation.

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We've highlighted some key sections from the article:

Rising Expectations and Frameworks

‍Global agreements such as the UN’s ambitious biodiversity targets and the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) underscore that nature is now a critical component of corporate accountability. The TNFD provides a framework for businesses to assess and act on nature-related risks, with hundreds of companies, including Ørsted and Cellnex, leading the way by incorporating nature with the same rigour as climate.

“The message from stakeholders is clear: embedding nature into decision-making is becoming an expectation, not an option. The time to act is now.”

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Challenges and Data Gaps

‍Although the call for nature intelligence is clear, companies face real challenges in accessing reliable, location-specific data to measure their impact accurately. Many reports so far are too generic to be decision-useful, as high-level industry averages fail to reflect specific operating ecosystems. Furthermore, the costs associated with selecting and aggregating data remain high, and technical expertise is often required to choose metrics relevant to each business and supply chain.

"Nature cannot be measured with a single data point."

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Emerging Technology Solutions

‍Innovative technology is now making it possible to measure nature with greater accuracy and at a lower cost. From biodiversity databases to advanced satellite observation, companies such as Google are developing land cover maps, while software startups, like Natcap, are enabling businesses to leverage these data sources for tailored insights. These tools help automate data aggregation, enable continuous updates, and provide a more meaningful historical record for measuring progress over time. This wave of innovation is laying the groundwork for enhanced, location-specific nature intelligence.

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With technology advancing and expectations rising, integrating nature intelligence into business strategy is not only achievable but increasingly essential.

"Whilst nature may be able to wait, business, economies, and societies definitely cannot."

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Read the full article here.