Nature Action for Business Starter Series
Nature loss is already posing a series of operational and financial risks to UK businesses. If left unmitigated, the Green Finance Institute (GFI) estimates that by the 2030s, UK GDP could be up to 12% lower than otherwise as risks continue to materialise. Recognising the need for action, leading companies have already begun developing corporate nature strategies, viewing these as not only essential for mitigating risk, but also as opportunities to tap into new markets, build early-mover advantages, and achieve cost savings.
Yet this is not happening at the scale or pace required. Only 5% of companies surveyed by the World Benchmarking Alliance have carried out an assessment of their operational impacts on nature, and less than 1% have assessed their dependencies on nature, with much of the inaction owing to a lack of understanding around how nature-related issues intersect with core business priorities, the inherent complexity of nature itself, and a general sense of uncertainty around how to get started.
2025 Webinar Series:
To cut through the complexity and equip attendees with the information and resources to get started with developing a nature strategy, the UN Global Compact Network UK hosted a four-part webinar series across June - July 2025. Designed as an entry-point for companies that have yet to begin their strategic work on nature, this series explored:
- The link between nature loss and business risk (including how the nature policy landscape is evolving and impacting UK businesses);
- How to build the case internally for nature action and secure leadership buy-in;
- How to develop a credible nature strategy and leverage existing tools and frameworks, such as the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and Science Based Targets for Nature methodology (SBTN), as part of this;
- How companies and SMEs from various sectors have taken their first steps on nature.
Session Recordings
Speakers
Lizzy Elli
Global Engagement Lead
Business for Nature
Charlie Dixon
Associate Director & UK Market Engagement Lead for TNFD
Green Finance Institute
Preeti Srivastav
Group Head of Sustainability
Asahi Group Holdings
Alex Buck
VSP, ESG
Endeavour Mining
Bálint Ternyik
Programme Officer - Nature Economy
UNEP-WCMC
Ana Hamilton
Technical Nature Manager
Aviva
Rebekah Church
Global Lead Biodiversity Stewardship
WWF
Rachel Kolbe Semhoun
Head of Sustainable Sourcing and Nature Initiatives
Kering
Mattie Yeta
Chief Sustainability Officer
CGI UK
Mark Cassalia
Senior Business Engagement Manager
CEO Water Mandate
Alexis Morgan
Global Water Stewardship Lead
WWF
Scott Oram
Global Water Lead
Haleon
Eleanor Pendle
Sustainability Research Lead
Waterscan
For any questions about this series, please contact Pauline Girma, Senior Project Manager (Environment).