By Liz Greenhill, Associate Director, Sustainability
Last month, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) issued a clear warning. Businesses that fail to protect nature could put their own future at risk.
Wildlife populations have fallen sharply over the past 50 years. Much of this loss is linked to how we use land. Forests are cleared. Cities expand. Natural habitats shrink.
This matters to every organisation. But it matters especially to those shaping our built environment. The construction sector works directly with land. The choices we make affect nature for decades. Perhaps forever.
Why biodiversity is rising up the agenda
We are seeing biodiversity rise up organisations’ agendas. This is being driven by several factors.
First, regulation.
In England, Biodiversity Net Gain has been in force for two years. Developers must now show a measurable increase in biodiversity to gain planning approval. What was once optional is now required by law.
Second, investors and occupiers.
Investors are placing more weight on environmental performance. Nature is part of that picture. Many now expect clear evidence that biodiversity is being protected or improved. Occupiers also want buildings that are resilient, healthy and responsible. Ignoring biodiversity can make it harder to attract funding and tenants.
Third, reputation.
Public awareness of environmental decline is growing. Organisations seen to harm nature risk damaging their brand. Those that show real improvement build trust with investors, partners and communities.
Finally, asset protection.
Nature supports the performance of buildings and infrastructure. Healthy ecosystems reduce flood risk, cool cities and support water management. When nature declines, assets face higher climate risk. Insurance costs can rise. Disruption becomes more likely. Long term value is affected.
Biodiversity will only grow in importance. Reporting requirements are increasing. Extreme weather events are drawing attention to how exposed our built environment can be and how nature helps manage that risk.
All of this is driving interest in what it means to be nature positive. That means leaving nature in a better state than before development takes place. It means measurable improvement and long-term care.
Organisations want to do more. Many recognise the risk and the opportunity. Yet action is not always straightforward. Biodiversity can feel harder to measure than carbon. Uncertainty is often the biggest barrier.
This is where the construction industry must step up.
Why construction must lead
Construction has a direct impact on land and ecosystems. Site choice, layout and design decisions shape biodiversity outcomes for decades. That gives our sector real influence.
Organisations need practical support to move from compliance to leadership. Clear tools and consistent methods are essential. The UK statutory biodiversity metric provides a way to measure habitat value before and after development. It creates a structured baseline and a clear way to track change.
However, metrics alone are not enough. Organisations also need guidance on what good looks like in practice.
This week, the UK Green Building Council has taken an important step forward.
The UKGBC Nature Positive Framework
The UK Green Building Council has launched its Framework for a Nature-Positive Built Environment. This sets out clearly what “nature positive” means for the built environment. It highlights where organisations have influence across planning, design, construction and operation.
It brings clarity to a topic that has often felt fragmented. It provides a shared language and a clear starting point for action.
Clarity reduces risk. It enables better decisions.
We have supported the development of the framework over the past year. Our team has contributed through working groups and workshops, sharing insight from live projects and biodiversity metric implementation.
Turning ambition into action
Clear guidance is important. Action matters more.
We support organisations in understanding Biodiversity Net Gain and applying biodiversity metrics on real projects. We follow a clear order of priorities, called the ecological mitigation hierarchy. First, avoid harm where possible. Second, reduce impacts where harm cannot be avoided. Third, enhance habitats on site. Only then consider offsetting.
Where offsetting is required, we help secure high quality biodiversity units from trusted habitat banks.
We also consider biodiversity alongside carbon, cost, water and social value. These issues are linked. We already benchmark and track carbon alongside cost to support informed decision-making across the whole life of an asset. Applying the same approach to biodiversity would allow organisations to understand the value of nature and make balanced choices that protect it over time.
Technology is helping too. Mapping tools and remote sensing allow us to assess existing habitat conditions. Drones and digital imagery help track habitat quality over time, including the 30 year commitments required under Biodiversity Net Gain.
The next step is deeper measurement. Creating habitat is one milestone. Understanding whether species return and ecosystems function well is another. New tools such as environmental DNA testing and sound monitoring will strengthen insight. Over time, biodiversity data is likely to sit alongside carbon and water data in simple dashboards that support better decisions.
A wider perspective: ecosystem thinking and long-term value
There is also a broader shift underway.
Biodiversity cannot be treated as a narrow environmental issue. Nature works as a system. Habitats, water, soil, climate and species all interact. Change one element and others respond. For the built environment, that means every project sits within a living system, not an isolated site.
The challenge is time. Nature works over years and decades. Business decisions, however, are often shaped by shorter cycles such as budgets, programmes and reporting periods. When these timelines clash, short term choices can undermine long term value.
Organisations that take a longer view of natural assets reduce risk. They create healthier places, protect asset performance and build trust with stakeholders. Biodiversity becomes part of a wider value strategy, not simply a compliance requirement.
The opportunity ahead
Organisations want to drive improvement. Investors expect clear answers. Communities want better outcomes.
The construction industry cannot stand aside. We shape land and places at scale. That gives us real influence over ecological outcomes and long-term resilience.
By combining clear frameworks, practical tools and disciplined delivery, we can help organisations reduce risk, protect assets and create measurable improvement for nature.
Providing certainty in complex environments is what we do. Supporting biodiversity is now part of that responsibility.
And addressing it well is not only good for the planet. It is good business.