海角视频

The phrase ‘nature positive’ is increasingly used in discussions on nature. But what exactly is it and how does it apply to the built environment? Here, learn why it matters and why the development of a dedicated framework is required.

What is the current picture for nature in the built environment?

The built environment industry inevitably has an impact on the natural world. It is up to those of us who work in this industry to ensure that this impact is a positive one. This applies 鈥� more than ever 鈥� to nature and the diversity of living organisms within it (biodiversity).

Worldwide, there are numerous initiatives that strive to elevate the visibility and significance of the natural world, emphasising its crucial role in fostering a healthy, thriving planet, and driving subsequent actions to protect it. But what about the built environment?

For years, the situation has been inconsistent. However, in England, it is now mandatory that new housing, industrial or commercial developments have a positive impact on biodiversity, with a delivery of a 10% increase in biodiversity value. This is a statutory requirement known as biodiversity net gain (BNG). This is a positive step but has to be tempered with the reality that , with one in six species at risk of being lost.

Elsewhere, endangered species are protected from development in different ways in different countries, through laws like the US Endangered Species Act and the EU Habitats Directive. Local laws and/or regulations can apply when development is undertaken and can help to protect biodiversity. However, these disparate notions do not converge into a unified framework that governs all development and construction within the built environment.

This is badly needed. Thankfully, recent global efforts are moving us in the direction of an understanding and framework that the whole industry can subscribe to. That understanding will soon be summed up by two words: nature positive.

What actually is 鈥榥ature positive鈥�?

So, what does 鈥榥ature positive鈥� mean? It is this vagueness and lack of clarity that needs to be addressed. The phrase 鈥榥ature positive鈥� has been used interchangeably with others in recent years, and to prevent misuse and potential greenwashing, the industry is taking steps to ensure clarity.

First, let鈥檚 look at the term in more detail. It is now largely understood to encompass the definition laid out by , a movement focused on a global societal goal of nature protection and restoration: The aim is to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030 on a 2020 baseline, and achieve full recovery by 2050. This means taking data from 2020 as a baseline, achieving a net positive improvement by 2030, and by 2050 gaining continuing success.

This is heavily influenced by the (GBF), the international agreement adopted in December 2022 at the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15) in Montreal, Canada. A mission from the GBF is to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030, aligning directly with the Nature Positive Initiative. Now, it is up to the built environment to understand and specify how this can happen in our industry. Enter The UK Green Building Council鈥檚 (UKGBC) Framework for a Nature-Positive Built Environment project.

Why do we need a framework for nature positivity?

for defining what it means for the built environment to be nature positive. 海角视频, as a leader in this field, is contributing to this initiative.

Aaron Grainger is associate director in the nature and biodiversity team at 海角视频 and sits on the steering group for the framework definition with UKGBC. He said, 鈥淎t the moment, there is no clear definition of how the concept of 鈥渘ature positive鈥� applies to the built environment. It is a phrase that has been around for a few years, but without a proper framework, it is difficult for industry practitioners to interpret in a consistent way.

鈥淲e need to define it, so that companies and key stakeholders apply it in the same way. It needs to mean the same to everyone. This is why the work with UKGBC on developing a clear framework of what it means in the built environment is so important.鈥�

The framework will be similar to the UKGBC鈥檚 , ensuring that projects and companies have a consistent reference point, and have to use a specific set of criteria, when using this terminology. It will aim to clarify to what degree buildings, projects or companies can be described as nature-positive, and under which circumstances. Any application of this upcoming framework must be meaningful and applicable to real-world examples.

Aaron said, 鈥淭he idea of nature positivity in the built environment should aim to encompass the value and supply chains, and not just the impact of the building or site footprint itself. For example, the extraction of raw materials can cause negative effects on biodiversity at the quarry site.鈥�

The idea of whole life cycle analysis is important and has clear parallels with how the industry deals with carbon. With carbon, we can look at the embodied carbon impacts across the whole life cycle of a building. Now, the same principles need to be applied to nature. What will the embodied ecological impacts (EEI) be?

The idea of nature positivity in the built environment should aim to encompass the value and supply chains, and not just the impact of the building or site footprint itself.

Aaron Grainger, associate director, nature and biodiversity, 海角视频

Aaron Grainger said, 鈥淚n the development of the framework, we will be exploring the importance of looking at how all elements of a building or project effects nature. It is time to look beyond the planning application red line boundary. Questions around impacts of the removal of habitats for material extraction, potential pollution during this process, decommissioning, transport 鈥� all the many elements that are required to deliver a project 鈥� should be considered in the context of nature.鈥�

This links directly with other work undertaken by to understand how the built environment can avoid harm and maximise nature-positivity. Phase two of this work is underway and 海角视频 continues to be involved. While carbon is relatively easy to measure, the impact on nature (which can of course stretch further than biodiversity) is harder to quantify. It is a vastly complex area, and this is one of the challenges that will be developed as the framework emerges.

Aaron is one of UKGBC has held sessions with sustainability professionals in the construction, design and consultancy space, which will continue into 2025. The framework itself is due to launch later on in 2025 and aims to provide a mutual understanding of the principles that should apply to the industry, ensure rigour and a mutual set of shared criteria that can understood by the industry.

Why is this important now?

Of course, nature has an inherent importance, without any caveats. But we must also understand its importance to society, economies and to the built environment. Nature provides a host of ecosystem services to humans. Provisioning services give us food, water, materials and medicines. Regulating services provide clean air, flood protection, carbon storage and pollination. It is these ecosystem services that businesses and economies rely on: the in economic value was at risk due to business reliance on nature. That figure was reported as being even higher in 2023, at $58 trillion. The relationship between companies and nature is an interdependent one: business operations impact on nature, but they also depend on it.

Aaron Grainger said, 鈥淭he focus on being nature positive through this upcoming framework from UKGBC is about raising the profile of nature, its inherent importance and the impacts of the industry. But it is also about the understanding of how dependent we all are on it 鈥� ecosystem and provisioning services are vitally important to our economy and society as a whole.

鈥淭here is increasing recognition of nature being important to the underpinning of societies, businesses and economies. Reporting frameworks (whether voluntary or mandatory) like (The Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures) and Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) are encouraging companies to consider the economic dependence on nature, but also the opportunities. That economic part of the conversation is really important in driving forward concepts like nature positivity.

鈥淭he focus on climate change is a great driver of why nature is starting to receive the focus it deserves: the climate is a complex picture and isn鈥檛 just about carbon. There are really two twin crises, that of climate and biodiversity. The two are inherently interlinked.鈥�

The focus on climate change is a great driver of why nature is starting to receive the focus it deserves: the climate is a complex picture and isn鈥檛 just about carbon. There are really two twin crises, that of climate and biodiversity.

Aaron Grainger, associate director, nature and biodiversity, 海角视频

Sam Holliday is head of nature and biodiversity at 海角视频. She said, 鈥淭his work underscores the critical importance of nature and biodiversity, not only for their intrinsic value, but also for the role they play on livelihoods, economies and societies. By safeguarding and sustainably managing nature, we enhance essential ecosystem services, which in turn support a broader socio-economic narrative.

鈥淥ur role involves collaborating with clients and working with them to demonstrate the benefits of integrating these principles into their projects in the built environment.鈥�

Momentum for actions that value the role nature plays is growing, especially for applications within the built environment. is now mandatory in England. The Nature Positive Initiative is of course in play, guiding actions to achieve nature positive aims. And while not limited to the built environment, an influential movement is 鈥�30 by 30鈥�, a global initiative aiming to protect 30% of the planet鈥檚 land and ocean areas by 2030, linked to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBD) from COP15. All these initiatives add up to work that is needed to achieve an environment that centres positive outcomes for nature.

And now, the development of a framework that clearly defines what 鈥榥ature positive鈥� means in the built environment is the next logical step to prioritise and protect nature and biodiversity.

Learn more about nature and biodiversity at 海角视频.