Masterclass in Nature Finance
In brief
Details
| Dates | 26 August - 29 August 2025 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4x sessions of 90 minutes |
| Location | Online |
| Fees | Free |
| Contact | P3SA@smithschool.ox.ac.uk |
Overview
Our economy is highly dependent upon nature and the ecosystem services it provides. As nature continues to deteriorate, society suffers, and businesses run more risk. Scientists predict that if the current rate at which nature is being destroyed or degraded continues unabated, irreversible tipping points may be crossed, with far-reaching economic and societal impacts. Corporates and financial institutions that fail to respond are contributing to the problem and are exposed to nature-related financial risks.
Nature finance holds the key to halting biodiversity loss by steering capital towards nature-positive purposes and re-directing capital away from nature-negative outcomes. However, scaling nature finance faces a multitude of challenges. The lack of clear policy frameworks with enforceable regulation hinders commitment to halting biodiversity loss by financial institutions. The complex character of ‘biodiversity’ poses challenges in designing and implementing appropriate targets and standards, and corresponding metrics. The thin level of awareness and technical capacity across the financial sector further hinders the aggressive level of action that is needed to meet nature recovery goals.
This Masterclass is for public sector professionals across governments, central banks and regulators, as well as philanthropic organisations and civil society to understand nature finance and have an improved grasp of the current landscape and developments, to accelerate the policy dialogue and create innovative, scalable and effective solutions.
Objectives
By the end of this Masterclass participants will be able to:
- Understand the current state of nature finance and and the economic implications of biodiversity loss on financial systems.
- Navigate global regulatory frameworks and disclosure regimes that integrate nature-related risks into financial decision-making
- Understand methodologies and tools for assessing the dependencies and impacts of economic activities on nature.
- Gain experience with how nature finance works in practice
Masterclass syllabus
Session I: What is Nature Finance?
Objective: To understand the foundational concepts of nature finance and the economic implications of biodiversity loss on financial systems.
Nature finance is a transformative approach that seeks to embed the value of natural ecosystems into financial systems and decision-making processes. As biodiversity and ecosystems face critical threats, the financial sector must recognize the economic risks posed by nature loss. This session will introduce participants to the concept of nature finance, examine the current state of global biodiversity, and discuss the potential economic repercussions of continued environmental degradation. By understanding these dynamics, stakeholders can better assess and mitigate nature-related financial risks.
Session II: Regulatory Developments and Disclosures
Objective: To examine global regulatory frameworks and disclosure regimes that integrate nature-related risks into financial decision-making.
Regulatory frameworks and disclosure regimes are essential for integrating nature-related risks into financial decision-making. This session will provide an overview of global frameworks, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and discuss recent regulatory developments. Participants will gain insights into the role of disclosure in managing nature-related financial risks and the importance of aligning with initiatives like the Taskforce for Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD).
Session III: Measuring Nature Dependencies and Impacts
Objective: To explore methodologies and tools for assessing the dependencies and impacts of economic activities on nature.
Accurately measuring the dependencies and impacts of economic activities on nature is crucial for effective nature finance strategies. This session will explore the methodologies and tools available for assessing nature-related dependencies and impacts at the sectoral level. Participants will learn about spatial finance, the use of geospatial datasets, and innovative tools like ENCORE that help quantify these dependencies. By understanding these measurement techniques, stakeholders can make informed decisions that align with nature-positive outcomes.
Session IIII: Nature Finance in Practice
Objective: To showcase practical applications of nature finance through case studies, highlighting innovative approaches and solutions.
The practical application of nature finance is crucial for achieving nature-positive outcomes. This session will showcase case studies from public and private sector practitioners, highlighting innovative approaches and solutions. Participants will engage in interactive discussions to explore the challenges and opportunities in implementing nature finance. By examining real-world examples, stakeholders can gain insights into effective strategies and technologies that drive positive environmental and financial outcomes.
Applications
Places on this course are strictly limited to those who have primary employment in:
- central or local government
- regulatory agencies
- supervisory authorities
- central banks
- multilateral institutions
- non-profit civil society organisations
- registered charities
- philanthropic organisations
Evidence of this may be requested and required.
To apply please complete the application form, for both individual and group bookings. We aim to respond within 14 working days of receipt of the application.
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Application form – collection notice
Information collected in the Application Form above will only be used for the purpose of evaluating your application to the Masterclass in Nature Finance at the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment (SSEE), School of Geography and the Environment (SoGE), University of Oxford, and will not be made available to third-parties. Information provided will only be kept for as long as is necessary to fulfil this purpose. Information is handled, stored and disposed of in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998. By supplying this information you are consenting to the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, SoGE holding and using it for the purposes for which it was provided. For more information, please see the SoGE's Privacy Policy.
In brief
Details
| Dates | 26 August - 29 August 2025 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4x sessions of 90 minutes |
| Location | Online |
| Fees | Free |
| Contact | P3SA@smithschool.ox.ac.uk |