The Ethical Investor: Here are the ASX companies backing biodiversity movement, 'Nature Positive Matters'

Ninety One unveils Sovereign Biodiversity Index
Australia’s biodiversity plan targets nature restoration by 2030
Aussie firms join ‘Nature Positive Matters’ for sustainability

Ninety One, the global investment powerhouse with around $250 billion in assets under management (AUM), has introduced its Sovereign Biodiversity Index, a tool designed to evaluate how governments impact biodiversity.

For ethical investors, this move is more than just another index, but a practical response to an urgent global issue: nature loss.

The Sovereign Biodiversity Index enables investors to allocate capital to countries actively working to protect biodiversity, while avoiding those that may be undermining their natural capital.

The results

The data is combined into an overall score for each country, which ranks them based on their biodiversity efforts.

Below are the top and bottom 10 countries ranked by Ninety One’s Sovereign Biodiversity Index.

Unfortunately, we don’t have access to the full table showing where Australia ranks. However, it’s clear that Australia is not in the Top 10.

Australia’s bold plan to restore nature by 2030

Meanwhile, Australia has recently released its Strategy for Nature 2024-2030 report, titled: “Australia’s National Biodiversity and Action Plan”.

The Plan outlines commitments to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. It also aims to restore and protect nature, ensuring by 2050 that we “live in harmony with the environment.”

Australia’s natural systems support around 600,000-700,000 species, many found nowhere else in the world.

This biodiversity forms the backbone of industries like agriculture, tourism, and fisheries, which together contribute to half of Australia’s GDP.

But all that is currently under severe threat.

Climate change, habitat loss, invasive species, and pollution are all driving declines in ecosystems and species. In fact, Australia has lost more mammal species to extinction than any other continent.

The 2019-2020 bushfires, and subsequent flooding in 2022-2023, highlighted the urgent need to manage our biodiversity assets.

The impacts of climate change are already evident—rising temperatures, extreme weather, and shifting ecosystems are challenging Australia’s flora and fauna.

Also threats such as invasive species, pollution, and unsustainable resource use only add to the pressure on our ecosystems.

To address these threats, Australia’s Strategy for Nature outlines several goals, including:

Goal 1: Connect All Australians with Nature

Many Aussies feel disconnected from nature.

We often forget how essential nature is to our health, happiness, and even our economy.

Whether it’s a walk in a park, a day at the beach, or simply enjoying a garden, connecting with nature boosts our physical and mental wellbeing.

It doesn’t always have to be a big planned event—nature is right there in our backyards, workplaces, and local communities.

By increasing awareness of nature’s importance, the Plan believes that it can help everyone, especially those who might not feel connected, to appreciate and care for it.

This also helps us make better decisions to protect nature for future generations.

Goal 2: Care for Nature in All Its Diversity

Nature is a precious asset that benefits all of us. Caring for our ecosystems, from the outback to our coastal reefs, is vital for our long-term survival.

Nature is resilient, but climate change is putting it under pressure.

We need to adapt our management practices to support ecosystems and species that are already under threat.

By 2030, we aim to:

* Protect 30% of Australia’s land and marine areas
* Restore priority degraded areas
* Prevent new extinctions
* Control invasive species in key areas
* Increase recycling and reduce pollution

Goal 3: Share and Build Knowledge

To improve biodiversity conservation, we need better research and data collection to track progress and address emerging challenges.

Collaboration is also key—sharing knowledge between scientists, businesses, governments, and Indigenous communities helps avoid duplication and ensures more effective action.

Ultimately, protecting biodiversity is a shared responsibility.

ASX stocks unite for ‘Nature Positive Matters’

Australia’s leading companies are recognising that what’s good for nature is also good for their customers, shareholders and the bottom line.

This is why more than 20 organisations – including major players like Blackmores (ASX:BKL) , Bega Cheese (ASX:BGA) , REST Super, Qantas (ASX:QAN), Brambles (ASX:BXB), GPT Group (ASX:GPT) and Bank Australia – got together in October to launch Nature Positive Matters.

Nature Positive Matters is a government-supported program aimed at encouraging action to restore nature.

As part of this initiative, companies will help with reporting and gathering data about nature, and run pilot programs that will guide policies and investment choices.

They will also create tools to help investors understand whether a business activity is environmentally friendly.

“It’s fantastic to see some of Australia’s leading businesses working to look after nature, and inspiring others to do the same,” said Tanya Plibersek, Minister for Environment and Water.

“Nature Positive Matters will help business understand and measure their impacts and their dependence on nature. As we know, you can’t manage it if you don’t measure it.”

The initiative comes as Australia, along with other nations, has agreed to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, a major agreement that aims to stop and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.

To support this, the Australian government is working with the United States and Canada to create a framework for natural capital accounts.

This will help show the value of natural resources like forests, soil, grasslands, and mangroves, and help businesses better understand the key resources they depend on.

“The Albanese Labor Government is helping business become more sustainable. Australia’s environmental credentials are good for consumers and good for trade,” said Minister Plibersek.

“I encourage more businesses to participate in Nature Positive Matters.”