The UNEP Finance Initiative is working with key partners to accelerate market adoption of nature-related financial disclosures to support the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework’s (GBF) goal of closing the biodiversity financing gap and targeting $20 billion annually by 2025 and $30 billion by 2030.
These new collaborations aim to align global financial flows with nature-positive outcomes, addressing the urgent need for coordinated financial action to halt and reverse biodiversity loss and prepare banks, insurers, investors, and real economy actors for nature-related disclosures aligned to the recommendations of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD).
According to the 2025 Global Risks Report, environmental threats remain the top concern across all stakeholder groups, highlighting the interconnected challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
Eric Usher, Head of UNEP FI, said, “This collaboration builds upon our earlier work with the TNFD and partners to provide market clarity and contribute to nature-positive goals. By engaging with global financial actors and real economy players, we can ensure the financial sector plays a central role in advancing biodiversity goals and building resilience in a rapidly changing world.”
To help close the biodiversity financing gap and address these challenges, UNEP FI has launched two strategic initiatives:
Building capacity in stock exchanges
In partnership with the United Nations Sustainable Stock Exchanges (UN SSE) initiative, UNEP FI will develop model guidance to help stock exchanges support listed companies in adopting and implementing the recommendations of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD).
Preparing Financial Institutions and Real Economy Actors
In collaboration with the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), UNEP FI will support banks, insurers, investors, and real economy actors in preparing for nature-related disclosures, aligned with the TNFD recommendations.
Together, these efforts will enhance financial system alignment with nature-positive goals by providing market clarity, capacity-building tools, and practical guidance for nature-related financial action.
Strengthening global commitments
Backed by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), these partnerships reinforce UNEP FI’s commitment to advancing global biodiversity goals. By leveraging insights from the 2025 Global Risks Report, these initiatives emphasise the need for localised strategies, collective actions, and cross-border coordination to address biodiversity challenges in both emerging and developed markets.
The initiatives also build on the ongoing contributions of PRI, the WBCSD, and the SSE Initiative to the broader sustainable finance agenda, reinforcing and expanding the TNFD framework’s uptake.
Key activities and focus areas:
- Providing market clarity – These collaborations build on previous initiatives to guide the financial sector in embedding nature-related considerations into decision-making processes. Initial activities include developing guidance for stock exchanges to help issuers adopt the TNFD recommendations.
- Addressing global and local risks – The partnerships will use insights from the 2025 Global Risks Report to emphasise the importance of localised strategies and collective action, ensuring both global and local biodiversity risks are addressed effectively.
- Reaching emerging markets – Recognising that much of the world’s remaining biodiversity is in emerging markets, the initiatives will focus on driving impactful action in these regions. The collaborations will help stakeholders understand and address nature-related dependencies, risks, and opportunities critical to achieving global biodiversity goals.
Anthony Miller, Chief Coordinator, UN SSE Initiative, said, “Stock exchanges are uniquely positioned to assist companies in adopting globally recognised frameworks like the TNFD, which advance market transparency and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.”
Angela Graham Brown, Director, Nature Action, WBCSD, said, “Better knowledge and improved confidence are needed to expand action on nature beyond the sustainability team and into markets. This collaboration is an important part of WBCSD’s capacity-building efforts, aiming to rapidly mainstream consistent and credible action on nature.”