EU: "Nature Credits" are underway to transform biodiversity into a €65 billion-a-year opportunity.
The European Commission has officially launched the roadmap for the nature credits, an innovative tool aimed at incentivizing private investments in environmental protection and restoration projects. Unlike carbon credits, these new tools are not based on avoided CO₂, but on concrete improvement of biodiversity.
"We need to put nature in the budget", declared the President of the Commission Ursula von der Leyen.
According to Brussels, with 75% of Eurozone businesses depend on ecosystem services, nature credits could transform biodiversity into a valuable asset capable of attracting capital.
Roadmap in brief:
By 2025: Establishment of an expert group for technical and regulatory development.
Until 2027: Launch of a pilot project financed by existing EU funds.
Objective: to attract 65 billion euros per year in investments for biodiversity, combining public and private resources.
France, Finland, Ireland and Italy are already experimenting with similar instruments at the national level. Brussels, for its part, has committed to allocating the 10% of the EU budget for biodiversity by 2027 and double external funding, up to 7 billion.
For more information: Link
ISSB begins review of SASB standards: focus on climate, water, and human capital
THEInternational Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) has initiated a thorough review of the SASB Standards, proposing updates for 50 industrial sectors. The goal: to improve alignment with new IFRS S1 and S2 and increase the consistency, relevance and comparability of ESG information provided by companies.
Three levels of intervention:
Complete revision for 9 priority sectors, including Mining and Processed Food.
Thematic alignment in 41 other sectors on cross-cutting topics such as water management, health and worker safety.
IFRS S2 Guidance Update, to maintain consistency between climate disclosures and updated sector standards.
Public consultation open until November 30, 2025, with the option to provide online feedback. The initiative is part of the ISSB's 2024–2026 work plan, which aims to support high-quality sustainability reporting that is useful to investors and accessible to companies.
Sue Lloyd, ISSB Vice President: “This is the first real opportunity for stakeholders to directly contribute to the review of SASB standards in the ISSB context.”
The review is the result of collaboration with global stakeholders and bodies such as GRI, EFRAG and TNFD, to ensure interoperability between major ESG frameworks.
What to expect in the coming months:
By the end of 2025: New drafts for three additional SASB standards, including the energy and utilities sector.
2026: Final standards published.
For more information: Link
GRI updates its standards on inclusion and human rights: more transparency and accountability in the workplace.
Il Global Reporting Iniziativa (GRI) has published two new draft standards focused on social issues in the workplace, currently under public consultation until September 15, 2025The aim is to strengthen corporate reporting on diversity, equal opportunities, non-discrimination e workers' human rights.
The two updated standards:
GRI 405 – Diversity and Inclusion Companies will have to demonstrate how diversity policies are integrated into corporate strategy and monitored by top management, with attention to ensuring consistency between statements and actual practices.
GRI 406 – Non-discrimination and equal opportunities Focus on tracking incidents of discrimination, analyzing structural causes, and adopting concrete measures to support vulnerable and underrepresented groups.
Updates are based on the conventions of theInternational Labour Organization (ILO), with the aim of promoting fair, inclusive employment that respects fundamental rights.
Anne Lindsay, GSSB: We urge all interested parties to participate in the consultation. Standards must not only be robust and practical, but also capable of generating real change for workers around the world.
A participatory review The process is coordinated by a tripartite technical committee (workers, employers, and trade unions) and supported by a multi-stakeholder advisory group, to ensure balance and practical applicability.
Upcoming Events: The Next One GRI webinar with OIL and IOE experts is planned for theJuly 8, 2025, with the aim of promoting a broad and constructive debate.
For more information: Link
Climate 2040: The EU aims for a 90% reduction in emissions, but countries are divided over international credits.
La European Commission is preparing to present the new climate target for 2040: a 90% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 levels. The plan is part of the European trajectory towards net zero emissions by 2050, after the intermediate target of -55% already set for 2030.
What's new: international carbon credits To achieve the ambitious goal, Brussels proposes to allow the use limited (up to 3%) of international credits linked to emission absorption projects outside the EU. These will have to comply high standards of quality and integrityThis is an attempt to introduce targeted flexibility, to facilitate political consensus among Member States.
A divided Europe The proposal has already sparked debate:
France and the EPP they call for realism and technological neutrality, including nuclear and renewables;
Denmark and other Northern European countries reject the systematic use of external credits, demanding that most of the reductions take place within the EU;
The Vice-President of the Commission Teresa Ribera He warns: “The EU's climate credibility is at stake. We cannot afford shortcuts.”
Other elements of the proposal:
Gradual application from 2036, with the first revision scheduled for 2032;
Recognition of the mechanisms of carbon capture and storage (CCS);
Development of carbon farming, enhancing the role of agricultural and forestry soils as natural “sinks”.
Civil society raises the alarm
Environmental organizations, such as the Climate Action Network Europe, have already expressed concern: "The EU has the means and the legal obligation to reduce emissions through internal action. Delegating externally would weaken European climate leadership and the European climate economy."
Next stepsThe plan will be discussed by the European Parliament and Council and must be consistent with: theParis Agreement, the international deadlines of the COP30 and European green industrial plans.
For more information: Link
Italy approves National Air Quality Plan: €2,4 billion for health and the environment
Il Cabinet adopted the new National Plan for the Improvement of Air Quality, with a total investment of 2,4 billion euros to reduce air pollution and align Italy with European environmental obligations.
The Spanish Minister Pitetto said: “An ambitious but realistic plan: improving air quality is a shared commitment that can no longer be postponed.”
4 key areas of intervention:
Agriculture: techniques with lower emission impact;
Sustainable mobility: local projects, sharing mobility, public transport;
Civil heating: promotion of more efficient systems, checks on obsolete biomass stoves;
Communication: awareness campaigns aimed at citizens.
Funded measures and specific actions:
€800 million to municipalities for “home-to-school,” “home-to-work,” and local transportation projects;
Incentives to cold ironing in ports (electrification of docks) to reduce emissions from docked ships;
Strengthened monitoring and defined responsibilities for each measure.
Governance and monitoring: The Plan establishes a multilevel governance system, which involves ministries, regions and local authorities in an integrated, transparent and participatory approach.
For more information: Link
