Task Force 3: Finance and Business Models (for NbS) in a Nature-Positive Economy

TF3 empowers finance for nature by building business cases for a nature positive economy and securing public and private investments.

A nature-positive economy is one where the net result of all economic activities combined leads to an absolute increase in nature, to the point of full recovery (Koh et al., 2025).

Objectives

1. Integrated policy and regulation change to stimulate investment in NbS

Integrated policy and regulation change to stimulate and increase investment in NbS, including leveraging public investments, encouraging private sector involvement and encourage public-private partnerships.
Identifying current gaps within investment policies and practices, such as the lack of financial incentives for green/NbS investments
Integrating standards and taskforce insights to align NbS initiatives with global financial and environmental reporting standards.

2. Research, Technology and Implementation Advancement

Increased investment and support for NbS research, including piloting and broader technology uptake, especially for impact measurement.
Increased buy-in and piloting of NbS-related actions to achieve socio-economic, health, and wellbeing impacts.

3. Economic and Entrepreneurial Development

Fostering green business, entrepreneurial and investment opportunities and employment through NbS.
Promoting nature-based entrepreneurship and advancing a nature-positive economy within the European Union.
Developing compelling business cases to attract further funding, leveraging insights from TNFD (Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures) and other relevant frameworks.

4. Market Integration and Finance Mobilisation

Mobilising finance from various sources for NbS projects.
Integrating NbS into market mechanisms and economic planning at various scales.

You must work in an EU funded research project related to nature-based solutions (NBS).

Themes

Theme 1: Mapping Financing Instruments and Business Models

Scaling up Nature-based Solutions (NbS) requires stronger financing, yet most projects remain small and publicly funded. This theme maps existing and potential financing instruments and business models, showcasing best practices to inspire public and private investment. Activities include webinars, case collections, and supporting the EC in developing a database of investable NbS projects.

Theme 2: Economic Valuation of NbS Benefits

Nature underpins our economy, but its value is often overlooked. This theme focuses on quantifying and communicating the economic benefits of NbS, providing evidence of cost-effectiveness and multiple co-benefits. It also explores the challenges and risks of relying solely on monetary valuation, while highlighting broader social and cultural values.

Theme 3: Policy and Regulation for NbS Finance

Policies and regulations are key to enabling a nature-positive economy. This theme explores how strategic policies and regulatory frameworks such as environmental taxes, subsidies, and impact bonds can unlock financing for NbS. It highlights how regulation can provide stability, incentives, and clear pathways for scaling investments in nature.

Theme 4: Activating Business Engagement in the nature-positive economy

With over 80% of NbS investment currently coming from the public sector, private sector involvement is essential. This theme looks at how businesses can integrate nature into strategies, meet rising reporting requirements, and create new markets for NbS. It also examines the growth potential of Nature-based Enterprises (NbEs) in delivering solutions and driving green economic growth.

Theme 5: Technology / FinTech for Nature Investment

Digital platforms, blockchain, AI, and FinTech are transforming how nature-positive investments are made. This theme explores how these tools improve transparency, enable crowdfunding, track impacts, and develop innovative instruments such as green bonds and sustainability-linked loans expanding access to finance for NbS and nature-positive projects.

Theme 6: Engaging citizens in the NPE to influence consumer behaviour, political decisions, financing and investment in NbS

Citizens play a vital role in driving a nature-positive future as conscious consumers, political advocates, and investors. This theme highlights how everyday choices, civic engagement, and community financing can influence markets, policies, and investments in NbS, amplifying collective action for nature.

Theme 7: Exploring opportunities for synergies with broader climate change and biodiversity initiatives in relation to financing and investment in nature

Global climate finance is rising, yet only a small fraction supports NbS. This theme explores how NbS finance can align with broader climate and biodiversity initiatives, learning from existing investment models and unlocking synergies with EU Missions and global climate funding.

Key Activities

The Task Force operates through dedicated working each led, contributed to, and reviewed by representatives from various projects. Each cluster determines its specific focus in collaboration with its contributors, defines its agenda and timeline, and identifies appropriate output formats.

TF3 activities are determined by members, and we are always open to suggestions of new activities aligned with overall objectives. Some of the ongoing activities includes:

Publication
Jointly developed by multiple projects, this European Commission expert publication aims to promote and advance a nature-positive economy. The publication is currently in preparation and will be launched soon.
NbS Financing Webinar Series
Led by TF3 members, this initiative provides opportunities to pitch ideas, match partners, and foster collaboration on financing nature-based solutions.
NbS and Insurance
Implemented under NNlabs, this activity focuses on integrating insurance mechanisms with nature-based solutions to strengthen resilience.
Collaboration in Horizon Europe
Facilitating and promoting collaboration among members for open Horizon Europe calls, with a particular emphasis on Cluster 6 opportunities.
Meetings
TF3 continues its work through regular plenary meetings, where members share updates, exchange feedback, and track progress across activities.

Outputs

EC Expert Publication – A collaborative publication developed with multiple projects to position NbS as a policy imperatives for a competitive and resilient nature-positive economy.

NNlabs–Insurance Materials – Resources and guidance on integrating insurance solutions with nature-based solutions for resilience.
Collaboration for Horizon Europe Calls – Joint proposals and partnerships, with a focus on Cluster 6 opportunities.
Feedback to EC Work Programmes – Input and recommendations on funding calls for nature-based solutions.
Joint events – Collaborative events where TF3 members come together to represent shared interests, such as joint participation in EBNS 2025