Natural capital

DEFINITION: The elements of the natural environment that provide valuable goods and functions such as clean air, clean water, food and recreation. Natural capital accounting puts a value on these resouerces. Each year, the planet produces up to $72trn worth of 'free' goods and services that are essential to a well-functioning global economy.

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Flooding has caused havoc across the UK over the last few months

Flooding and coastal damages risking £12bn to UK economy

Rising sea levels, storms and flooding driven by climate change has placed more than £12bn of the UK's economy at risk, according to new findings from WWF which warns that almost 2.5 million homes in the UK will be at risk of flooding by 2050.
The challenge calls for businesses to invest in “nature-based solutions” such as enhancing biodiversity and reforestation to act as carbon sinks

Gucci boss calls on business leaders to deliver net-zero supply chains

Gucci chief executive Marco Bizzarri has called on business leaders to sign up to a Carbon Neutral Challenge that sees businesses deliver greenhouse gas emissions reductions across their entire value chain in order to achieve net-zero emissions.
Gough believes that corporates must make capitals thinking a core foundation for business decisions, rather than keeping it within a trial or side-project

'To truly embed sustainability, businesses must redefine value itself'

EXCLUSIVE: As ever more companies strive for sustainability which stretches beyond the confines of a separate CSR department, they will need to explore ways to define success beyond monetary value.
The Government has unveiled how it plans to leave the environment in a better state 

Deposit return schemes and biodiversity net-gain: Raft of new policies unveiled in Environment Bill

The UK Government has launched its new governance system on issues covering clean air, waste management and plastics pollution, natural capital approaches and water stewardship, in the form of the long-awaited Environment Bill. 
The report comes as climate demonstrations continue across the UK. Image: Extinction Rebellion

UK needs sustainability act to avert economic collapse, says IPPR

Britain needs an overarching new sustainability law to bolster natural life-support systems and prevent economic and social collapse, according to proposals from one of the country's most influential left-wing think tanks.
UN General Assembly in New York

UN launches Green Finance Platform to improve banks and business interactions

The UN's Green Growth Knowledge Platform (GGKP) has launched two new platforms to improve the dialogue and actions between the finance sector and businesses in order to accelerate the growth of green finance.
The Environment Secretary will also use today’s speech to build on the swelling notion of addressing the climate emergency Image: Chatham House

Michael Gove backs comprehensive 'all-in' deposit return system for plastics

Environment Secretary Michael Gove has publicly backed a deposit return system for plastic containers, irrespective of size, while also warning that time is running out to avert the climate emergency.
The natural capital costs associated with the crystal was found to be markedly lower than diamond, gold and silver

Swarovski turns to natural capital accounting to measure environmental impact

Jewellery giant Swarovski has calculated the monetary value of the natural resources used to produce its namesake crystals, in a move towards its overarching aim to supply "the world's most transparent crystal".
<p>Some developers have already voluntarily adopted a net-gain approach to biodiversity, but the Government looks set to mandate it by law. Image: Berkley Group</p>

Natural Capital Committee: Biodiversity net-gain must not rely on offsetting

The UK Government's independent advisor on natural capital has criticised proposals put forward by the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) that would require developers to pay for biodiversity offsets in other regions if their projects result in habitat loss.
The oil and gas, consumer goods, industrial and healthcare sectors were deemed to be at high financial risk from natural impacts such as extreme weather events and biodiversity loss

Three-quarters of UK FTSE All-Share firms 'highly dependent' on natural capital

Almost three-quarters (74%) of UK businesses listed on the FTSE All-Share Index have been dubbed "potentially highly dependent" on natural resources such as clean air, water and soil in a new study on nature-related business risks.
The second episode in this six-part series explores how Brexit will affect the policy and business spheres' approach to natural capital

The Big Brexit Questions podcast: What next for the UK's natural capital?

With Brexit discussions set to resume as MPs return to Parliament after an 11-day Easter break, edie's new podcast mini-series explores the impact of Brexit on key areas of the UK's green economy. Up next: Natural capital.
Failures to meet air pollution regulations cost the EU economy €24.6bn, the study found Pictured: London, where 10 air pollution alerts have been issued since May 2016

Report: Failure to implement clean air laws cost EU €24bn in 2018

By failing to meet targets and regulations set out in EU environmental laws, Member States collectively cost the bloc's economy almost €55bn last year, a new report from the European Commission's Directorate General for the Environment has found.

BNP Paribas aligns with SDGs and Paris Agreement in new sustainability strategy

French banking giant BNP Paribas has outlined its latest strategy to accelerate its commitment to sustainable development.
The scheme will fund large-scale conservation and restoration activities across Scotland's forests, lakes and coastline

'The £1bn challenge': Natural capital investment project launched in Scotland

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and the Scottish Wildlife Trust have teamed up to launch a new project aiming to attract £1bn of investment in protecting the nation's natural capital.

Blueprint for Water is urging water utilities to adopt a natural capital approachm, placing a financial value on natural resources

Water companies urged to 'up their game' on pollution and natural capital through to 2025

The UK water sector has stepped up its environmental ambition in the current business planning period, but gaps remain when it comes to reducing sewage pollution incidents and factoring in the value of natural capital.
PwC is urging finance firms to assess the financial damage trends such as deforestation, rising carbon emissions and ocean pollution could cause to their portfolios

Finance firms must adopt a natural capital approach to risk, PwC warns

In the face of climate challenges, most financial service providers are still failing to assess the extent to which environmental degradation could pose financial risks to their firms, PwC has warned.