Nature Positive Role of the Ports Sector

Why nature matters for businesses The importance of nature for businesses and financial institutions is growing as the evidence for nature-related risks rises. In the World Economic Forum’s Global Risk Report 2025,10 five out of the top 10 risks over the next decade are environment- related: extreme weather events, biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse, critical change to Earth systems, natural resource shortages and pollution. In parallel, the calls for rapid change are getting stronger and more frequent, coming from policy-makers, regulators, investors, companies, consumers and citizens (see Figure 2). Companies that anticipate the risks of nature loss can minimize disruption from incoming policy and regulatory requirements, proactively manage nature-related physical, transition and systemic risks,11 including dependencies on ecosystem services and assets, and benefit from early nature- related opportunities. Key nature-related dynamics impacting businesses FIGURE 2 BusinessesGlobal Biodiversity Framework Guidance and standards − In total, 196 parties agreed on the landmark Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework in December 2022. − Target 15 of the framework explicitly calls for mandatory assessment and disclosure and for businesses to reduce their negative impacts on nature.− Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) issued sector-specific guidance for 8 sectors and financial institutions. − International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) incorporated nature and biodiversity requirements. − EU’s European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) started in 2024. − Science Based Targets for Nature (SBTN) released updated target-setting guidance. Customers and employees − Recent studies show 85% of consumers indicate that they have shifted their purchasing behaviour to be more sustainable in the past five years. − The Union for Ethical BioTrade (UEBT) Biodiversity Barometer has shown consistent growth in biodiversity awareness among consumers over the past decade.− In total, 1 77 financial institutions with €22.1 trillion in assets under management signed the Finance for Biodiversity Pledge. − Nature Action 100 harnesses investor influence on businesses.Financial institutions Source: Convention on Biological Diversity. (2022). Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework; Business for Nature. (2023). A wake-up call for business: Target 15 commits governments to require nature-related disclosure from large companies and financial institutions; Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD); Reuters. (2022, 14 December). Global sustainability rules body steps up focus on biodiversity; European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG). EU Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS); Science Based Targets Network (SBTN). (n.d.). For companies; Nature Action 100; Finance for Biodiversity Foundation; Union for Ethical BioTrade (UEBT). Biodiversity Barometer. 9 Nature Positive: Role of the Port Sector