The Green Finance Institute has today (8 December) launched the Investment Readiness Project Toolkit, a new online platform that it says will accelerate the development of “investment-ready” nature-based projects in the UK.
By setting out eight critical milestones to investment readiness – each with sets of considerations and case studies – the Green Finance Institute says the toolkit helps bridge the gap between project developers and investors or lenders and mobilises private finance into the restoration of nature and nature-based solutions.
The Green Finance Institute says that up to £97 billion in investment is required over the decade ahead. It continues that private sector investment in nature is “urgently needed” if the UK hopes to meet its nature-related goals, such as the reduction of flood risk through natural flood management, carbon sequestration and sustainable soil management.
The Institute says the Investment Readiness Project Toolkit is grounded in “extensive research” with project developers, consultants and investors. It continues that it “breaks down” the pathway for developers to follow and more swiftly reach a stage of attracting private sector finance.
It’s evident there’s no time to lose in channelling more private investment towards nature-based solutions
The Toolkit guides project developers – including farmers, estate owners, charities, local authorities and project aggregators – from initial scoping, through the identification and engagement with sellers and buyers and establishment of governance structures, to the endpoint of signing legal contracts with key stakeholders including investors or lenders, the Green Finance Institute says.
Commentating on the toolkit, Dr Rhian-Mari Thomas, CEO of the Green Finance Institute, said: “As the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) begins in Montreal, it’s evident there’s no time to lose in channelling more private investment towards nature-based solutions.
“The Investment Readiness Toolkit for Nature provides a clear framework to support investment into nature restoration in the UK to deliver the environmental benefits we need to see.
“With three-quarters of UK FTSE All-Share firms ‘highly dependent’ on natural capital, catalysing private investment into nature to strengthen investment opportunities and scale nature markets is critical to the future and health of our economy.”