Submission: Implementing Australia’s Strategy for Nature 2024-30
The Australian Sustainable Finance Institute (ASFI) has lodged its submission to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water’s consultation on Implementing Australia’s Strategy for Nature 2024–2030.
ASFI supports the development of a strong implementation plan that embeds credible, science-based mechanisms to protect and restore Australia’s natural environment, and ensures that private finance can play a constructive role in achieving nature-positive outcomes.
A robust environmental protection framework, clear definitions, and transparent data systems are essential foundations for directing capital towards nature restoration and resilience.
A well-designed framework has the potential to enhance regulatory certainty, improve data availability and investor confidence, and enable finance to contribute meaningfully to Australia’s biodiversity and climate objectives — supporting the transition to a sustainable, nature-positive economy.
In our submission, ASFI outlines 11 key recommendations to strengthen implementation of the Strategy for Nature and associated reforms to the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC), including:
Establishing an independent Environmental Protection Australia (EPA) and legislated Environment Information Australia (EIA) to deliver consistent, transparent environmental oversight and data.
Defining clear legislative objectives and outcomes aligned with international frameworks such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Embedding legally binding National Environmental Standards with measurable thresholds and “no-go zones” for critical ecosystems.
Requiring science-based definitions of ‘nature positive’ and quantifiable baselines to ensure integrity.
Integrating First Nations rights and participation, including the principles of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC).
Strengthening transparency and accountability for restoration and offset actions through public registries and clear mitigation hierarchies.
Harmonising deforestation risk regulation across jurisdictions.
The submission also highlights ASFI’s broader work to advance nature finance in Australia, including the Valuing Natural Capital program, research on integrating nature into the Australian Sustainable Finance Taxonomy, and ongoing collaboration with government and financial institutions to align capital flows with biodiversity outcomes.