There are great challenges as a result of climate change and biodiversity loss. Unfortunately, there is still a huge gap between the funding needed for nature and climate projects and the actual investments. Donor money alone will not bridge this gap; private investment is also needed to close it. At the same time, there are enormous opportunities where nature and climate projects can also be financially profitable. In order to make the necessity and opportunities visible, Nature^Squared, commissioned by WWF Netherlands, developed the Bankable Blueprint Book, which was presented during the virtual Global Landscapes Forum 2020.
For some time, WWF Netherlands has been working on financing nature restoration and identifying and creating ‘’Bankable Nature Solutions’’ – solutions that not only benefit nature but also generate a financial return so that investments can be recouped. WWF’s actions in this area have intensified since the establishment of the Dutch Fund for Climate and Development (DFCD). The DFCD was established to scale-up private investments in nature and climate projects and is managed by FMO in cooperation with WWF, SNV, and Climate Fund Managers (CFM).
The Bankable Blueprint Book provides examples of investable nature and climate projects around the world in various sectors including water, forestry, sustainable agriculture, nature conservation, and green energy. The report was compiled based on desk research and conversations with project owners and financiers, which provided relevant insights into revenue models, financing structures, and challenges. The report also presents a stepwise approach for setting up and financing Bankable Nature Solutions. What business opportunities are there for climate adaptation and mitigation, what are the expected returns, what is the risk of such an investment, and how can this best be mitigated? The report aims to alter the way project developers and investors look at nature and climate projects to ensure that projects are designed in a way that they become interesting for investors, making available the required capital. Only then can we meet the wicked challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss.