NatureAlign is an online decision-support tool designed to help financial institutions assess and respond to nature-related risks and opportunities. It focuses on aligning financial activities with nature-positive outcomes by linking biodiversity, ecosystem dependencies and financial decision-making. The tool is relevant to finance professionals seeking to integrate nature considerations into risk, strategy and governance processes.

Organisation behind the tool

NatureAlign is developed and maintained by Nature Finance. Nature Finance is an international non-profit organisation working at the intersection of finance, nature and climate, with a focus on transforming financial systems to better account for environmental risks and dependencies.

What the tool does

NatureAlign supports financial institutions in understanding and managing nature-related risks and opportunities. Key functions include:

• Mapping financial activities and portfolios against nature-related risks, dependencies and impacts
• Providing structured guidance on aligning governance, strategy, risk management and metrics with nature considerations
• Supporting scenario thinking and strategic planning related to biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation
• Offering frameworks and practical steps to move from risk identification to action
• Enabling users to assess alignment with emerging nature-related expectations and frameworks
• The tool is primarily qualitative and strategic, focusing on decision-making processes rather than raw datasets.

Target audience

The primary audience is financial institutions, including banks, asset managers, asset owners and insurers. It is also relevant to sustainability teams, risk managers and strategy professionals. Policymakers, researchers and advisors may use the tool for reference or analytical support.

Relevance to finance professionals

NatureAlign can be applied across several finance-relevant use cases:

Risk assessment

• Identification of nature-related financial risks linked to biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation
• Support for integrating nature risks into enterprise risk management and governance structures

ESG analysis

• Structured approach to incorporating nature and biodiversity considerations into ESG assessments
• Alignment with emerging expectations around nature-related disclosure and accountability

Market and sector insights

• Improved understanding of how sectors such as agriculture, forestry, mining, infrastructure and energy depend on and impact nature

Investment context

• Strategic insight into long-term environmental trends that may affect asset values, portfolio resilience and capital allocation decisions

The tool supports a more systematic consideration of nature within financial decision-making without providing investment recommendations.