Private capital markets face significant exposure to risks from nature loss while simultaneously acting as key drivers of ecosystem destabilization. Recent findings from leading global financial players reveal high levels of portfolio-wide nature risk. Despite growing efforts to invest in nature-positive solutions, according to the 2023 State of Finance for Nature Report, 86% of funding still flows through public sources. This gap presents an opportunity to redirect sources of private funding toward nature-positive opportunities while also “turning off the tap” of nature-negative financial flows.
Purpose and Goals:
Given the relationship between financial markets and biodiversity loss, CREO seeks to leverage the collective financial influence of our membership base to build a Working Group (WG) around the topic of nature finance and biodiversity loss, with the goal of creating a collaborative environment for members to map, de-risk, and deploy capital into solutions to the biodiversity crisis.
Shifting financial and regulatory landscapes—including structural transformations, innovative valuation methodologies, and increasing pressures for consistent nature-risk reporting—further position CREO members to lead private investment into nature-positive opportunities.
Participation Criteria:
- CREO membership
- Commitment to a cumulative capital deployment goal of at least $5 million per participant into biodiversity-positive investments by the end of 2026, with an initial commitment starting in 2025
- Engagement in converting existing assets and deploying new capital into biodiversity-aligned opportunities
- Interest in learning, sharing insights, and collaborating with peers on nature finance solutions
Focus Areas:
The Working Group will organize around three core Engagement Tracks, each with tailored impact KPIs:
- Rewilding Real Assets: Scaling investments in natural ecosystems restoration
- Unlocking NBS Demand: Catalyzing nature-based solutions and capitalizing on nature-positive investment opportunities
- Mapping and Screening Nature Risks: Assessing portfolio-level risks and integrating nature-positive strategies
Engagement and Programming:
The Nature Finance and Biodiversity Working Group will convene through quarterly plenary calls, virtual learning sessions, and peer-to-peer networking opportunities. Members will also gain access to CREO’s curated deal flow landscape maps, designed to accelerate decision-making and collaboration. The Working Group’s Engagement Tracks will form dedicated Sub-Groups, with the entire cohort coming together periodically for Plenary sessions.
By mobilizing private capital and fostering collaboration, the Nature Finance and Biodiversity Working Group empowers members to take meaningful action against biodiversity loss while driving measurable impact and value creation across financial portfolios.
Our team welcomes outreach from members looking to learn more about our Working Groups. To learn more about the Future of Food Working Group, please contact Aly Rose at arose@creosyndicate.org
