Release：UK-China Nature & Biodiversity Finance Workstream Progress Report (2025-2026)

Time：2026.07

Biodiversity loss and climate change are increasingly evolving into systemic risks that threaten global economic stability and financial resilience. Mobilising financial capital more effectively for nature conservation, restoration and sustainable use has therefore become an important area of international green finance cooperation. Against this backdrop, the UK–China Nature & Biodiversity Finance Workstream was established in 2025 under the UK–China Green Finance Taskforce. Co-chaired by Bank of China and Standard Chartered, with the Institute of Finance and Sustainability serving as Secretariat, the Workstream brings together financial institutions, think tanks and research organisations from both countries to advance policy exchange, practical cooperation and capacity building in nature finance.

This report provides a comprehensive overview of the Workstream’s core progress and key milestones since its inception. It focuses on four priority areas: nature-related risk management and disclosure; biodiversity finance product and instrument innovation; compatibility and mutual recognition of biodiversity and nature finance taxonomies; and nature-positive transition in key sectors. The report summarises case studies and insights from member institutions during the Workstream’s first year and sets out priority directions for the next phase of cooperation. It aims to provide practical reference for financial institutions seeking to strengthen nature-related risk management, advance financial product innovation and taxonomy application, and support the nature-positive transition of the real economy, while contributing scalable financial solutions to the global implementation of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.