ASFI Research Report: Integrating Nature into Finance

Laying the foundations to expand the Australian Sustainable Finance Taxonomy to drive positive environmental outcomes in the agriculture and land sectors

The Australian Sustainable Finance Taxonomy is the first in the world to cover the mining sector, and now ASFI is once again breaking new ground, after being engaged to explore science-based methods for developing draft taxonomy nature criteria for agriculture, forestry and land management – sectors critical to biodiversity, water, pollution management and national resilience.

Recognising the interconnectedness of climate and nature, ASFI was commissioned by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) to explore how the taxonomy could expand to include nature-related objectives.

The research report, titled ‘Integrating Nature into Finance’ was guided by senior officials from Treasury, DCCEEW and the Department of Agriculture, with input from major agricultural lenders, including the world's leading specialist bank for food and agribusiness Rabobank, financial institutions, superannuation funds, First Nations organisations, and leading environmental groups.

This rigorous process has ensured that the research outcomes reflect diverse expertise and exhibit broad market credibility. It marks an important step toward integrating nature-related objectives into financial decision-making and supporting Australia's commitments under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and Australia’s Strategy for Nature 2024-2030.