Nature

Driving better nature outcomes.

Our position

Our ambition is to partner with customers to drive better nature outcomes and strengthen resilience1 to nature loss. 


A thriving economy depends on healthy ecosystems, yet nature is in decline and is placing the services that support economic activity at risk. We recognise that valuing, restoring and protecting nature is critical to building resilient businesses and long-term value. We support our customers to strengthen resilience to nature loss across operations and supply chains.


The United Nations Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (Framework), adopted at the 15th Conference of the Parties, sets a global vision of a world living in harmony with nature by 2050. We are committed to supporting the Framework’s vision that “by 2050, biodiversity is valued, conserved, restored and wisely used, maintaining ecosystem services, sustaining a healthy planet and delivering benefits essential for all people.”

 

Through our nature ambition and Action Plan (PDF 2MB), we seek to play our part to manage impacts within our own operations and support customers to strengthen strategic, operational and supply chain resilience.

Our principles

Science based action on nature

We support the scientific evidence that nature and biodiversity are in decline faster than at any time in human history. We support the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of nature while meeting other global societal goals.


Our actions on nature are informed by science based, credible methodologies and evolving global frameworks.

Nature loss creates risks, investing in nature supports resilience and long-term value

Nature related impacts and dependencies can translate into financial risks and opportunities. Nature supports businesses and communities through healthy water, land and natural systems. When these systems are degraded, it can reduce the resilience of our and our customers’ operations.

 

We support investment in protecting and restoring nature to manage these risks and enable sustainable long-term growth.

Interconnection between nature, climate change and human rights

We believe nature loss, climate change and human rights are interconnected. For example, climate change can accelerate the loss of services we rely on from nature, and both climate and nature impacts can have human rights impacts.


We seek to consider these interconnections in our actions on nature.

Systems level thinking and collective action

A nature resilient economy depends on collective action across governments, financial institutions, businesses and communities. Nature operates as a system, where impacts in one area can create cascading effects elsewhere. Effective responses require systems level thinking, collaboration and alignment across sectors to strengthen ecosystem resilience and support sustainable economic outcomes.

How we’re taking action

Our Nature Action Plan (PDF 2MB) outlines how we will progress our Nature ambition by focusing on our operations and customers, acknowledging that our largest exposure to nature-related risks and opportunities is through our lending. 

 

Our Sustainability Customer Requirements (PDF 442KB) set out our requirements for lending to larger business customers to support our ambition. 

Our progress

Sustainability reporting

We seek to report regularly to help stakeholders to compare our relative performance overtime.

Sustainability insights

Explore more sustainability insights and articles.

 

Things you should know

  1. The ability of ecosystems and society to withstand disturbances without shifting to an undesired state - Adapted from the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) definition of resilience.