After months of anticipation, the UK National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) has finally been published. This strategy document outlines how the UK intends to meet its obligations under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). The roadmap, which was published four months after the UN deadline, lays out commitments to protect at least 30 percent of land and sea, reduce pollution, and ensure the sustainable trade of wild species. Keep reading as we dive further into the NBSAP and what it means for corporate sustainability.
Slow progress on 30×30 targets
The UK’s commitment to expanding protected areas to at least 30 percent of land and sea by 2030 has been a cornerstone of its biodiversity strategy. However, current progress is alarmingly slow. According to Wildlife and Countryside Link (WCL), only 9.7 percent of England’s seas and 3 percent of its land are effectively protected.
Meanwhile, a House of Lords report from 2024 suggested that just 6.5 percent of UK land is genuinely safeguarded in a way that meets international conservation standards. A significant issue is that many designated protected areas are not meaningfully conserved. Industrial activities, pollution, and climate-related threats continue to erode biodiversity, even within so-called protected zones.
The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has warned that while some progress has been made, stronger leadership and policy enforcement are needed to embed environmental principles more effectively. The UK now finds itself in a credibility gap – a nation that leads in biodiversity commitments but lags in tangible conservation progress. With COP16 negotiations ongoing in Rome, the pressure is mounting for the UK to demonstrate that it can turn policy into practice.
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Corporate responsibility and nature finance – A step forward?
Beyond conservation targets, the UK National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan introduces corporate biodiversity disclosure measures, nature financing commitments, and sustainability incentives. Under UK Target 15, the Government plans to encourage large businesses to monitor, assess, and disclose their biodiversity-related risks and dependencies.
This includes greater supply chain transparency and stronger environmental impact reporting – a move that aligns with business demands for mandatory biodiversity disclosures under the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) framework. However, biodiversity reporting remains voluntary, unlike climate disclosures under the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).
Ultimately, the question remains: will voluntary reporting be enough to drive meaningful change, or will the Government need to mandate compliance to prevent businesses from greenwashing their biodiversity impact? Meanwhile, UK Target 18 calls for the elimination of harmful biodiversity subsidies by 2025, with full phase-out or reform by 2030.
The UK is committed to contributing to the global goal of reducing such subsidies by $500bn annually, redirecting funds towards conservation and sustainable resource use. On the finance front, UK Target 19 outlines plans to mobilise $20bn per year by 2025, increasing to at least $30bn per year by 2030. This forms part of the broader international commitment to generate at least $200bn annually for biodiversity initiatives worldwide.
Yet, one of the biggest sticking points in COP16 negotiations is whether wealthier nations will fulfil their biodiversity financing commitments. While the UK’s target is ambitious, questions remain over how these funds will be deployed, how private sector investment will be mobilised, and whether financing structures will ensure benefits for both businesses and nature.
The road ahead – Ambition without implementation?
The UK’s belated publication of its NBSAP raises serious concerns about the pace of biodiversity action. While the framework is strong on ambition, it remains light on enforcement mechanisms, financial commitments, and corporate accountability.
If the UK is to close the biodiversity gap, businesses must go beyond voluntary reporting and integrate biodiversity into their ESG strategies. This means:
- Implementing biodiversity impact assessments across supply chains.
- Engaging in nature-positive investment strategies that drive conservation efforts.
- Incorporating biodiversity metrics into corporate sustainability reporting.
At a time when global biodiversity loss is accelerating, businesses can no longer afford to overlook nature in their sustainability strategies. With regulatory frameworks tightening and biodiversity reporting becoming a key expectation, companies that act now will be better positioned to navigate evolving requirements and strengthen their long-term resilience.
Closing the gap between ambition and action requires the right knowledge, tools, and strategies. Our online business sustainability courses equip teams with the expertise needed to integrate biodiversity into ESG frameworks, assess risks and dependencies, and align with global reporting standards. By building internal capacity, businesses can move beyond compliance, drive impact, and stay ahead in an increasingly nature-conscious economy.
