Nature Positive Role of the Technology Sector 2025

Why nature matters for tech companies FIGURE 1 Securing licence to grow and operate Address community concerns to overcome opposition and advance projects $64 billion of data centre projects blocked or delayed in the US by local opposition from 2023 to early 2025Developing resilience and adaptability Reduce dependencies on increasingly scarce energy & water resources and associated infrastructure bottlenecks 5 out of the top 10 risks in the Forum’s Global Risks Report 2025 over the next decade are environment-related, including natural resource shortagesMeeting stakeholder expectations Fulfill expectations from financial institutions, customers and employees and meet expected commitments 200 financial institutions with $23 trillion in assets under management have signed the Finance for Biodiversity PledgeDelivering financial growth and cost savings Reduce input costs from energy, water and raw materials $1.0-1.4 million in energy costs can be saved annually for a 1 0 MW data centre when shifting to renewable energy, as well as $220-365k in water costs Source: see endnote.20Why nature matters for tech Recognition of nature’s role in the success of businesses and financial institutions continues to grow. Companies – especially those in the tech sector – that address the nature impacts and dependencies in their operations and value chains can reap a range of benefits (see Figure 1). These include the following, explored in greater detail below: –Securing social and regulatory licence to grow and operate. –Developing resilience and adaptability to nature-related risks. –Meeting growing stakeholder expectations. –Delivering opportunities for financial growth and cost savings. 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,17 including dependencies on ecosystem services and assets, and benefit from early nature- related opportunities.Securing licence to grow and operate Tech’s rapid growth has led to a surge in infrastructure development, especially data centres, prompting increasing scrutiny from local communities and regulators. In the United States (US) alone over the past two years, $64 billion of data centre projects have been blocked or delayed due to local opposition.18 This resistance often stems from concerns about competition for energy, water and other natural resources, as well as ecosystem disruption and increased pollution associated with some of these facilities. Recent US Energy Information Administration (EIA) analysis shows a 6.5% increase in retail electricity prices in the US from 2024 to 2025 after relatively stable prices in the decade prior and data centre electricity usage is among important factors blamed for this.19 Policy-makers and regulators are now caught between balancing national ambitions to attract tech investments with local and regional concerns. Unless tech companies address their natural resource dependencies and engage early, transparently and inclusively with communities and governments, they risk losing public support, facing costly delays or cancellations of critical projects. Unless tech companies address their natural resource dependencies, they risk losing public support, facing costly delays or cancellations of critical projects. Nature Positive: Role of the Technology Sector 8