Natural Capital

We look back at the headlines that made the biggest splash and drew the most number of readers last year.

2023 was another year in which the voluntary carbon market’s failings were heavily criticized but there were also positive notable milestones such as a $50 credit and the VCMI’s global rulebook.

Ardian and Morrison & Co, two infrastructure fund managers, revealed nature-based investment strategies in 2023 that they say fit neatly within their infrastructure strategies – a trend that looks set to continue.

The nascent debt restructuring facility has been lauded as a silver bullet for conservation finance in some quarters, but needs to continue its growth if it is to have a material global impact.

New Forests secures A$75m commitment from the CEFC for ANZLAFF, alongside investment from AP2, BVK and others.

With a string of big deals in Australia and elsewhere, Canadian investors continued to flex their muscles and demonstrate their commitment to the asset class in 2023.

Trade of carbon credits between countries remains out of reach as agreement could not be found on the all-important Article 6 that was introduced in 2015 at COP21, Paris.

TPG made its presence felt in 2022 with head-turning forestry deals and awards wins – and it has now been named by the UAE as one of three ‘launch partners’ for its $30bn climate investment vehicle.

The French firm’s latest land restoration strategy will invest in sustainable forestry and regenerative agriculture projects in developing countries.

A large-scale portfolio previously belonging to the Hui family adds weight to New Forests’ recently established agriculture division.