Building business capacity on nature

This post was originally published on WBCSD

Is “biodiversity” the same as “nature”?

We have 30,000 suppliers; how do we even begin to understand their impact on nature?

How can I make a strong business case for shifting product design to reduce our negative impacts on nature?

These are just a few of the questions we hear from our member companies. The diversity of these questions reflects the varying levels of maturity among both individuals and organizations on their journey to addressing challenges related to nature loss.

Scaling business ambition and action on nature

To support business action on nature, WBCSD has developed a “nature journey funnel” that provides clarity and guidance by mapping the key questions companies encounter at different stages of maturity.

Today, hundreds of companies are positioned at the top of the funnel, while only a limited number are currently leading at the most advanced stage. Our collective challenge is to accelerate progress and significantly increase the number of companies advancing through the funnel if we are to achieve the global goal of halting and reversing nature loss by 2030.

With robust guidance and data already available, companies have much of what they need to advance their nature journey. As a result, many initiatives – including key voluntary frameworks like the Taskforce for Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and the Science-based Targets Networks (SBTN) – are now focusing on capacity building and training.

WBCSD’s approach to capacity building

At WBCSD, we have used this funnel to shape our capacity-building approach on nature targeting specific learner needs and ensuring practical application.

WBCSD’s framework focuses on four high-level business actions on nature: Assess, Commit, Transform, and Disclose. We map resources and guidance to different maturity levels and specific business needs, based on the Roadmaps to Nature Positive: Foundations for all businesses.

WBCSD’s capacity building offering on nature

We partner with subject matter experts to provide a range of capacity-building opportunities. To register your interest for any of the programs, click here.

Get started

WBCSD offers several entry-level options to help businesses get started on their nature journey:

• ‘Why nature loss is material to your business’: A practical introductory webinar to help break down the complexity of nature through using the newly updated ENCORE tool. Participants complete an initial screening of nature-related impacts and dependencies using the updated ENCORE tool, as part of the SUSTAIN project. This session is held twice a year. The next one is on 3 June 9:00  and 16:00 CEST.  

•  ‘Introduction to Nature in Business’ e-learning module – an engaging 1-hour course developed with support from Anthesis. It is available exclusively through the WBCSD Academy. Start your journey to integrating nature into business strategy today!

Enhance your skills

• The ‘Nature Reporting Preparer Forum’ builds the capacity of companies operating in and/or sourcing from Latin America and Southeast Asia. Participants assess nature-related issues in their business, with the aim of contributing to the development of initial strategies and targets to manage risks and opportunities, ultimately leading to improved disclosures on nature. This initiative offer training, peer-learning and coaching in collaboration with our partners in Brazil (CEBDS), Colombia (CECODES), and our APAC office in Singapore. We are working in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) and the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) to enhance collaboration between corporates and financial institutions. We leverage materials from TNFD and other relevant frameworks, ultimately contributing to the TNFD Adopters initiative. Registrations open until 13 June 2025.

• Our ‘Nature Strategy Accelerator’ leverages relevant framework and guidance to support advanced members to credibly develop or update their nature strategy and make meaningful contributions towards addressing nature loss. Supported by Anthesis and ERM, in 2025 we are running three cohorts for consumer goods and retail, energy and cross-cutting companies. The Accelerator is aligned with Business for Nature’s “It’s Now for Nature” campaign and is one of several accelerators being run by other WBCSD partners including the Shift and MVO Nederland. Contact us to learn more about joining WBCSD and the Nature Action project.

Lead action

• ‘Embed Nature’: Leveraging insights from the A-Track project, WBCSD supports leading companies in implementing nature strategies across their operational, financial and strategic levels, and engaging core business functions. Join us for the kick-off call on 10 June 2025.

At WBCSD, we are committed to empowering business leaders with the confidence and knowledge they need to drive meaningful change within their organizations and beyond, aligned with the Global Biodiversity Framework. Through collaboration and targeted capacity building, we can collectively achieve a nature-positive future.

To register your interest for any of the programs, click here. For any other questions on WBCSD’s approach on nature, contact nature@wbcsd.org

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