Nature in focus

Exploring how asset owners are approaching nature and biodiversity-related investing

We surveyed 330 senior investment decision makers across EMEA to understand how they’re approaching the challenges and opportunities of nature and biodiversity-related investing.
Here’s what they told us.

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Across Europe and the Middle East, many investors are paying attention to the risk and opportunity of nature and biodiversity

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Many senior investment decision-makers in EMEA are integrating nature and biodiversity considerations in their portfolios
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77% of respondents

are incorporating nature and/or biodiversity objectives into their investment process. While allocations are small for now, a majority (53%) plan to increase them over the next two years.
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About

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respondents include (or plan to include within 12 months) nature and/or biodiversity objectives for listed equities (60%), real estate (57%), and infrastructure (57%)
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59% of respondents

Cite managing investment risk as a top-three reason for incorporating nature and/or biodiversity
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But it’s not just about risk. Many EMEA investors see opportunities in key nature-related themes:
- 44% of respondents sustainable agriculture and food
- 41% of respondents sustainable forestry and land use
- 40% of respondents nature or biodiversity-linked financial instruments
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42% of respondents

Say a lack of reliable/scalable data is the largest barrier to integrating nature and/or biodiversity

38% of respondents

Say they are concerned there may be limited investable options
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From awareness to action:
what investors want next

Many EMEA investors’ educational priorities are shifting to implementation.
- 48% of respondents rank insight on the relevancy of biodiversity-related risks to investments among their top three needs
- 44% of respondents rank insight on integrating biodiversity-related metrics within portfolios among their top three needs

Regional snapshots

Take a look below at what survey respondents in your region said.

Nordics

Focusing on real assets to implement nature-related objectives

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Benelux

Nature integration with a focus on opportunities and positive contributions

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United Kingdom & Ireland

High nature integration rates

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Switzerland

Nature integration driven by market demand and opportunities

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Germany

Strong focus on nature-related inclusionary screening and thematic investing

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Middle East

Exploring avenues in sustainable infrastructure and forestry

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Latest insights

Our latest thought leadership explores some of the key trends from the survey and our latest thinking on nature and biodiversity-related investing.

How EMEA-based insurers are approaching nature-related investing

Nature and biodiversity-related investment is a fast-evolving area of financial services — and EMEA-based insurance firms are at the forefront of this development.

Learn more

EMEA asset owners turn to nature-linked bonds for potential positive outcomes and returns

Our latest research shows a strong interest in nature- and biodiversity-linked financial instruments, with 40% planning to prioritize such investments in the coming year.

Learn more

Nature as an asset: the relevance of biodiversity for investors

In this piece, State Street Investment Management discusses the magnitude and sources of nature-related risks, and the reasons for greater investor awareness.

Learn more

Disclosure

Information Classification: General Access

Marketing Communication

For professional client use only.

Important Information

In May 2025, State Street Investment Management, in partnership with FT Longitude, surveyed 330 senior investment decision-makers working at asset owners (including pension funds, insurance firms, endowments and sovereign wealth funds) across the EMEA region (Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Kuwait, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Switzerland, the UAE, and the UK). The survey explored how these investors are approaching the challenges and opportunities of integrating nature and biodiversity objectives into their investment portfolios.

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