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Nature Positive

About nature positive

Halting biodiversity loss, and reversing it to recovery.

What we want to understand and think about now, in order to get there.

What is happening now

69%

Average decline in monitored wildlife populations between 1970 and 2018

Source: WWF Living Planet Report 2022

83%

Decline in freshwater species populations over the same period

Source: WWF Living Planet Report 2022

1 million

Species of plants and animals now at risk of extinction. Biodiversity loss strikes supply chains directly.

Source: IPBES Global Assessment 2019

$44tn

Estimated share of global GDP — more than half — that is moderately or highly dependent on natural capital

Source: WEF Nature Risk Rising 2020

What is nature positive

Shifting nature from "decline" to "increase."

Using 2020 as the baseline, halting and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030, and fully recovering ecosystems by 2050.

A global goal for biodiversity that stands alongside "Net Zero" in climate. It calls not for mere maintenance of the status quo, but for an active shift toward "recovery."

The 2020 → 2030 → 2050 roadmap

2020

Baseline year

The baseline for measuring progress toward nature positive. Recovery is assessed against the state of nature in this year.

2030

Reversal target

The short-term goal to halt biodiversity loss and put it on a recovery path. "30by30" (protecting 30% of land and sea) is also due by this year.

2050

Full recovery

The year the "vision" is realized: ecosystems fully recovered, nature and human society living together.

Why nature matters

The roles nature plays — four "ecosystem services"

Supporting services

The foundation of all life. Fundamental functions — oxygen, soil, the water cycle — that make every other service possible.

oxygen · soil formation · water cycle

Provisioning services

Functions that supply the "raw materials" of life — food, timber, medicine, water. Over 75% of crops depend on pollination.

food · timber · medicinal materials

Regulating services

Functions that protect future safety — climate regulation, flood prevention, water purification. Forests also help capture carbon.

climate regulation · flood prevention · water purification

Cultural services

Functions that are the source of tourism, spiritual richness, traditional culture and education. Japan’s aesthetic of nature springs from here too.

tourism · traditional culture · spiritual richness

The international policy timeline

How the world is changing

  1. 2020

    The concept of "nature positive" is published

    14 business and conservation groups jointly publish "A Nature-Positive World: The Global Goal for Nature." The WEF also estimates a $10tn business opportunity.

  2. 2021

    G7 Nature Compact · TNFD launched · COP15 Part 1

    The "G7 2030 Nature Compact" is agreed at the Cornwall summit. The TNFD (Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures) is formally launched. Nature positive is written into the COP15 "Kunming Declaration."

  3. 2022

    Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework adopted

    COP15 Part 2 (Montreal) adopts a new global framework including "30by30." Reversing biodiversity loss by 2030 becomes a shared global goal.

  4. 2023

    TNFD v1.0 · Japan’s national strategy · G7 ANPE established

    The final TNFD framework is published. Japan’s cabinet approves the "National Biodiversity Strategy 2023-2030." The G7 in Sapporo agrees to establish the G7 Alliance on Nature Positive Economies.

  5. 2024

    Japan formulates its "Nature Positive Economy Transition Strategy"

    A transition strategy is drawn up jointly by four ministries (Environment, Agriculture, Industry, Land). A domestic business opportunity of ¥47tn by 2030 is estimated. TNFD adopters in Japan rank among the highest in the world.

  6. 2026–

    ISSB nature disclosure standards · toward mandatory reporting

    The ISSB plans to develop international financial reporting standards for nature (BEES). Mandatory disclosure in Japan comes into view around 2028. A "state of nature metrics" framework also heads toward finalization.

Japan’s efforts

Japan is a world-leading, nature-positive front-runner

¥47tn

Domestic business opportunity expected by 2030 (Ministry of the Environment estimate)

The transition to a nature-positive economy is projected to generate ¥125tn in economic effect. The number of Japanese companies declaring TNFD adoption is among the highest in the world (over ~130 as of 2024).

  • Conservation and recovery of ecosystems (land and sea)
  • Protection, management and sustainable use of wildlife
  • Integrated action on climate change and biodiversity
  • Shifting business activity and financial flows
  • Mainstreaming biodiversity across society as a whole

Hokkaido and nature positive

In nature positive, where "the specificity of place" matters, Hokkaido plays an exceptionally important role within Japan.

Agriculture & dairy

As Japan’s largest agricultural region, it depends directly on natural capital — soil, water, pollinators. TNFD visibility and disclosure can raise ESG-investor regard and differentiate brands.

Fisheries

Highly dependent on marine ecosystems, fisheries are the industry most directly tied to TNFD disclosure. Examples of value creation through scientific resource management and disclosure are emerging at home and abroad.

Forestry & forest resources

As Japan’s largest forest region, it can disclose ecosystem services such as carbon storage and watershed conservation in TNFD terms. Pairing this with FSC certification is an effective route to international markets.

Tourism & regional brand

A rich natural environment is itself a tourism asset. Building the brand of "nature-positive Hokkaido" can also drive inbound tourism from Japan and abroad.

Biodiversity conservation

Home to many endemic species such as the red-crowned crane and Blakiston’s fish owl, it is a leading contributor to the 30by30 goal, advancing certification of nature-symbiosis sites (OECMs).

Ainu culture & local knowledge

TNFD explicitly lists "engagement with Indigenous peoples and local communities" as a disclosure requirement. A rare region that can build a unique model drawing on Ainu views of nature and knowledge.

How companies can engage

The "LEAP approach" recommended by the TNFD + five steps of preparation

  1. L

    LOCATE

    Map where your business and supply chain interface with nature.

  2. E

    EVALUATE

    Assess your dependencies and impacts on nature, quantitatively and qualitatively (e.g., via ENCORE).

  3. A

    ASSESS

    Identify nature-related risks and opportunities, and grasp their financial impact.

  4. P

    PREPARE

    Set strategy and targets, and get ready to disclose.

  5. →

    DISCLOSE

    Publish TNFD-aligned disclosures in annual and integrated reports.

What is the TNFD

In a word, it is "a framework for reporting how a company relates to the natural environment, translated into economic value."

What is natural capital?

The "assets" nature holds — forests, oceans, soil, freshwater, biodiversity. All of our economic activity rests on the benefits of this natural capital.

Why "financial" information?

When nature is lost, many industries — agriculture, fisheries, tourism — suffer real damage. Nature risk is not an "environmental issue" but a "management risk."

Who uses it?

It targets companies and financial institutions. They examine how much their activities depend on and affect nature, and disclose this to investors and society.

Where did it come from?

Conceived at the 2019 Davos meeting. Led by the UN (UNDP, UNEP) and WWF, it was formally launched in 2021, with the final framework v1.0 published in September 2023.

The four pillars of TNFD disclosure

  • 01

    Governance

    Show the board and management’s oversight of nature-related issues and where responsibility lies.

  • 02

    Strategy

    Disclose how nature-related risks and opportunities affect business strategy and financial planning.

  • 03

    Risk management

    Explain how nature-related risks are identified, assessed and managed, integrated with enterprise-wide risk management.

  • 04

    Metrics and targets

    Set and publish metrics and targets that measure dependencies, impacts, risks and opportunities related to nature.

World’s highest

Japanese companies declaring TNFD adoption rank among the highest in the world

Since the final TNFD recommendations, over ~130 Japanese companies have declared they will work on disclosure (as of 2024). Japan is one of the most proactive countries in the world ( TNFD global / Ministry of the Environment ).

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