Australian insights
Consultation on Matters of National Environmental Significance(Opens in a new tab/window)
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water is seeking feedback(Opens in a new tab/window) on the exposure draft of the National Environmental Standard for Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES). The exposure draft of the MNES Standard has been developed based on feedback received from the public and stakeholders during previous consultations. Provide your feedback by Friday, 29 May 2026.
IAG renews Aboriginal Carbon Foundation partnership(Opens in a new tab/window)
General insurer Insurance Australia Group (IAG) has renewed its partnership with the Aboriginal Carbon Foundation (AbCF) for a further three years to help strengthen community resilience as bushfire risk increases. The partnership will support AbCF on its mission to increase awareness and adoption of cultural land management to strengthen community resilience in a changing climate. IAG’s recent Changing Climate Report highlighted the threat to both natural and built environments is growing faster than previous projected and that bushfire weather risks are escalating. Since initially forging the partnership with IAG in 2022, AbCF has expanded its cultural fire service capacity, delivering tangible economic benefits to Indigenous peoples and Traditional Owner groups who undertake the specialised work.
Biodiversity loss: A guide for today's finance leaders(Opens in a new tab/window)
CPA Australia has published(Opens in a new tab/window) an article recognising biodiversity loss as a financial risk and highlights that finance leaders play a pivotal role in translating nature-related risks and opportunities into business strategy. The article points to research by the Australian Sustainable Finance Institute (ASFI) that shows ecosystem condition directly affects profitability, productivity, land values and loan serviceability in nature-dependent sectors such as agriculture.
CPA Australia’s environment, social and governance lead, Patrick Vilijoen FCPA, says that nature reporting and climate reporting cannot be separated, as they are interdependent. Carl Obst, director at IDEEA Group, who works with organisations to develop natural capital accounts says that businesses need to account for each environmental asset it owns, uses and manages. This includes measuring extent, condition and what ecosystem services are provided. Once foundational accounts are developed, businesses can report on performance, identify risks and opportunities and run scenarios.
ASFI CEO, Kristy Graham, recognises that natural capital is not reflected in land valuation methodologies. Integrating nature-related risk and resilience into credit and investment frameworks will recognise sustainable land management practices and ecosystem stewardship and will support long-term economic and environmental outcomes.
Westpac IQ’s Sustainable Finance Market Update Q1 2026(Opens in a new tab/window)
Westpac IQ’s Q1 2026 Sustainable Finance Market Update explores(Opens in a new tab/window) trends across sustainable bonds and loans, highlights notable transactions from the quarter and examines developments shaping the role of sustainable finance in supporting Australia’s digital infrastructure transformation. Globally, sustainable bonds continued to dominate overall issuance, with Green Bonds remaining the largest sub‑label, recording USD 190bn in Q1. Notable sustainable finance transactions included NBN Co Limited issuing its inaugural Australian dollar Sustainability Bond in March 2026, raising AUD 850m and Aviation Capital Group extending and upsizing its sustainability linked loan to USD 575m in January 2026. Notable offshore transactions included Chile issuing a landmark EUR 1.5bn sovereign sustainability-linked bond.
International insights
IPBES Business and Biodiversity Assessment(Opens in a new tab/window)
Following the twelfth session of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) Plenary in early February and the subsequent Summary for Policymakers report, the six chapters of the Business and Biodiversity Assessment are now published(Opens in a new tab/window). The six chapters include setting the scene, discussing how businesses depend on and impact biodiversity, approaches for measuring dependencies and impacts, options for action by business and creating an enabling environment for business.
While businesses have a key role to play in scaling action on nature, significant barriers to transformative change remain. Critically, businesses face a lack of clear expectations from consumers, investors and governments on what constitutes an appropriate and credible contribution to global biodiversity goals. Businesses can act at four interconnected decision-making levels: corporate, operations, value chain and portfolio. Despite incomplete data, many corporate-level actions can be immediately implemented. Delivering meaningful and lasting biodiversity outcomes on the ground requires business operations to conduct robust impact assessments, rigorously apply the mitigation hierarchy, and implement credible monitoring, adaptive management, and stakeholder engagement.
NatureVest Impact Report(Opens in a new tab/window)
NatureVest, the impact investing and nature finance team of The Nature Conservancy, has published(Opens in a new tab/window) its impact report for 2025. NatureVest’s portfolio has grown, since 2014, to US$4 billion in committed capital across more than 25 countries. NatureVest’s work is demonstrating that strategic, nature-positive solutions can unlock environmental and community benefits, while aiming for meaningful financial returns. Funds related to Australia include the RRG Sustainable Water Impact Fund and Murray-Darling Basin Balanced Water Fund. Key impact highlights as of 31 December 2025 include avoiding or sequestering 5.1 million metric tons of CO₂e, improving management on over 8 million acres of land, and protecting 172,000 square miles of ocean.
Forest 500 data shows regulation is driving corporate action on deforestation(Opens in a new tab/window)
Global Canopy’s 12th annual Forest 500(Opens in a new tab/window) report shows a clear and achievable path towards deforestation-free supply chains and operations. The report looks at over 270,000 publicly available data points to evaluate and assess actions taken by 500 companies in the global trade of nine forest risk commodities: beef, cocoa, coffee, leather, palm oil, pulp and paper, rubber, soy and timber. The report divides companies into three performance categories, 4% are leaders with strong deforestation commitments and report significantly stronger implementation, Nestlé and Flora Food Group are in this category. 63% are late majority companies, includes IKEA and Mondelēz International and 33% are laggard companies with no deforestation or conversion commitments for any commodity. 68 (14%) of companies cited the incoming EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and 45 companies cited the EUDR as a driver for action. Three Australian headquartered companies are assessed in the report, Coles Group, HVP Plantations and Thomas Foods International Consolidated Pty Limited.
Communities of Practice Webinar Series(Opens in a new tab/window)
The Secretariat for the Convention on Biological Diversity Conference of the Parties is launching(Opens in a new tab/window) a webinar series that will bring together partners, experts, practitioners, and representatives of relevant communities of practice and existing networks to explore practical approaches to integrating biodiversity considerations into sectoral policies, practices and decision-making processes. Sectors that will be explored through the webinar series include the circular economy, mining, fisheries and aquaculture and finance. Once completed, webinars will also be posted in the CBD YouTube page(Opens in a new tab/window).
Where the Water Flows: Water as Infrastructure(Opens in a new tab/window)
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, a multilateral development bank headquartered in Beijing, has published(Opens in a new tab/window) a report, where the water flows, discussing why the water cycle must be protected through governance reforms and investments in nature, landscape conservation and water-related infrastructure. The report includes examples illustrating how climate adaptation is bolstered by investments that integrate engineered assets with natural systems (healthy catchments, wetlands, floodplains, soils) thereby reducing physical risk, improving infrastructure reliability and delivering multiple economic and social benefits. These approaches can complement traditional infrastructure and are particularly valuable when climate uncertainty is high.
The findings of this report point to a strategic shift away from fragmented water responses toward systemic water resilience. The report makes six recommendations required to operationalise this shift, these include scaling infrastructure for climate adaptation, reform water governance, mobilising finance for resilience and advance equity and inclusive water systems.