Scaling investment into nature is critical to achieving government’s growth ambitions

Aug 26, 2025

  • GFI and WWF publish report calling on UK Government to support and participate in the co-development of Nature-Positive Transition Pathways with the private sector, incorporate nature and climate into economic and growth strategies, and to harness and support the private sector in reducing impact and scaling investment into nature-based solutions and new technologies
  • While businesses are starting to take action, they are calling for guidance through the development of Nature-Positive Transition Pathways (NPPs); national plans that provide guidance on how different sectors are expected to align with and, deliver on, environmental targets.
  • This follows 28 businesses and organisations signing a statement supporting the development of NPPs in the UK

 

26 August 2025, London: The GFI and WWF have today published a new report, the “Business Investment in Nature: Supporting UK Economic Resilience and Growth”, demonstrating how a degraded natural environment is negatively impacting businesses across the UK, and therefore hindering economic growth.

At the same time, the report shows how swift and coordinated action can secure the UK’s future growth trajectory by building resilience, improving productivity, and leading in the technologies, materials and financial products that are needed to reduce business impacts on nature and support its restoration.

Should action not be taken, there could be significant ramifications for the UK economy. Nature-related risks, including water scarcity, pollution, flooding, soil degradation and resource scarcity, are already disrupting key sectors such as housing, energy, agriculture, manufacturing and tourism. These risks are driving up operational costs, threatening asset viability and undermining regional economic resilience.

This follows research from the GFI, University of Oxford, University of Reading, UNEP-WCMC and the National Institute for Economic and Social Research which estimated that continued nature degradation, exacerbated by climate change, in the UK could lead to a 4.7% reduction to UK GDP by 2030 – outweighing gains from current growth initiatives.

Beyond reducing risk to growth, nature represents a major growth opportunity, as identified by the report.

UK businesses are increasingly investing in nature-based solutions and innovations to reduce their impacts on nature. The report cites over 40 examples illustrating how UK businesses and sectors are taking targeted action, such as regenerative agriculture, water efficiency and circular technologies, and are seeing financial returns and competitive advantage. This includes action from many of the sectors highlighted as priorities for growth under the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy.

While individual businesses are starting to act, they are calling for more guidance and better coordinated action in order to create a level playing field across sectors and to give them the confidence to invest at scale. To unlock these opportunities and manage nature-related risks, the report advocates for the development of Nature-Positive Transition Pathways (NPPs); national plans co-designed by government and the private sector that provide guidance on how different sectors are expected to align with, and deliver on, environmental targets.

The GFI and WWF have been working together to convene businesses and trade organisations, 28 of which have signed a statement supporting the development of NPPs in the UK, as a means to scale up investment, achieve the targets of the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP), and strengthen the UK’s economic growth prospects. Business signatores include John Lewis, Sainsburys, NatWest, Balfour Beatty and Aviva.

The government’s revised Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) offers an opportunity to renew efforts to protect and restore UK nature, and businesses must play a key role, with the private sector critical in delivering nature-related targets.

Environment Secretary, Steve Reed, said: “Thriving nature is the foundation of everything this government wants to achieve. We are working with industry leaders to drive private investment, including through the development of Nature Positive Pathways. These will enable UK businesses to harness the economic opportunities that come from restoring and protecting our natural environment to deliver strong and sustained economic growth, which is this Government’s number one mission. Britain as one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, I am determined to reverse nature decline and look forward to launching our new plan for nature and the environment in the Autumn, which will set out how we will do this.”

James Close, Director of Climate and Nature at NatWest Group, said: “At NatWest, we believe that nature-positive pathways can help our customers build more resilient, productive, and future-ready businesses. This message is underscored in the report published today by WWF and GFI, which explores the significance of integrating nature into the UK’s economic strategy.”

Vassilis Gkoumas, Economist at WWF, said: “A real plan to save UK nature must bring the private sector with it. The evidence paper published today shows that the scale of the opportunity, and the statement of support demonstrates that many businesses want greater clarity around how they can contribute to the transition. Now we need more to come forward and play their part, and the UK government to recognise Nature-Positive Transition Pathways as a key part of their economic strategy”.

Charlie Dixon, Associate Director at GFI, said: “The empirical evidence is clear that business investment in nature is a powerful engine for economic growth. UK businesses are keen to contribute to the delivery of the UK’s nature targets, but need better guidance and coordination in order to do so. We urge more businesses to join the 28 that have demonstrated their support for the development of Nature-Positive Transition Pathways in the UK to bring this clarity.”

If you are interested in having your organisation sign this statement of support or working with us to develop NPPs, please email us at [email protected].