Integrating nature into business: Including insights on the climate-nature nexus

Climate change is a key driver of biodiversity loss, contributing significantly to the degradation of ecosystems. In turn, healthy and resilient ecosystems are essential for climate mitigation and adaptation, providing critical services such as carbon sequestration, water regulation, and protection against extreme weather events.

The interdependency between climate and nature is clear, and aligning organisational action to address both simultaneously can unlock substantial environmental, social, and economic value.

IEMA has published a new paper focused on integrating nature into business strategy, offering practical insights into how organisations can build on existing climate efforts to address their nature-related impacts and dependencies.

This resource is designed to support both those at the early stages of engaging with natural capital and biodiversity, and those seeking to enhance and scale their sustainability approach. Key areas covered include:

  • Establishing a starting point: understanding your organisation’s aspirations and current maturity in addressing nature-related issues.
  • Accessing and interpreting data: Identifying relevant natural resource inputs, tools, and frameworks to assess dependencies and impacts.

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  • Leveraging climate action: building on carbon hotspot analyses and decarbonisation work to identify nature-related opportunities and risks.
  • Utilising existing knowledge: drawing on organizational-level and supply chain data already in place to inform action.
  • Bringing nature into strategic decision-making by understanding key drivers
  • Exploring transition planning: understanding what a climate and nature-positive transition looks like.

As regulatory frameworks evolve, investor expectations rise, and the urgency of halting biodiversity loss increases, the integration of nature into organizational strategy is becoming less optional and increasingly a strategic necessity.

This paper provides a clear framework for action, supporting organisations to assess their current position, identify material risks and opportunities, and integrate nature into broader sustainability and risk management systems. By leveraging existing climate data - such as carbon footprinting and supply chain analysis - organisations can streamline their efforts and accelerate progress.

Ultimately, businesses that act now to reduce negative impacts and invest in nature-positive opportunities will be better positioned for long-term resilience and success. This approach supports environmental responsibility while aligning with financial prudence and stakeholder expectations.

Whether your organisation is just beginning to explore its relationship with nature or is already engaged in strategic transition planning, this paper provides the tools and guidance needed to move forward. The most important step is to start and to take meaningful action now.

IEMA members can download their FREE copy here.

Non-IEMA members can purchase the guide on our online shop under: 'Biodiversity and Natural Capital' here.


Published by:
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Lesley Wilson AIEMA

Policy and Engagement Lead

Lesley is Policy and Engagement Lead at IEMA with a focus on the rapidly developing area of biodiversity and natural capital. On behalf of IEMA, Lesley also supports and is a member of the Steering Group of the UK Business and Biodiversity Forum. Lesley has worked in environmental sustainability for 15 years and previously delivered programmes and solutions in sustainability for business at the British Standards Institution, including ground breaking standards in biodiversity net gain and natural capital. Lesley has a qualifications in business management (MBA) and climate change management, and mentors environmental students at the University of Westminster.