10 December 2025 10 minute read
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Our society, economies and financial systems are embedded in nature, not external to it. This paper sets out the actions we are taking to understand nature-related risks and opportunities to deliver outcomes that meet our clients’ needs, and to support nature-related global goals.

Nature is so important for everyone, everywhere, and for everything we do.

PDF 10.9 MB 56 pages

Navigating nature 2025

As of last year, six of nine “planetary boundaries” have now been transgressed, increasing the risk of irreversible environmental damage.1,2 Global wildlife populations have declined by an average 69 per cent in the past 50 years and around 1 million animal and plant species are now threatened with extinction, many within decades.3 The scale of the problem is daunting.

So, why should this issue matter to investors? As a global asset manager, Aviva Investors recognises the significant investment risks and opportunities that derive from our portfolios’ interactions with nature. Understanding potential exposure to nature‑related risks, and addressing them, is crucial to safeguarding the long-term value of investments.

We see the enormity of the challenge but we also see solutions. Investors who are engaged with, understand, and can identify nature-related risks and opportunities are better positioned to make investments that are focussed on harnessing nature to enhance resilience and adaptability. We believe this can ultimately contribute to long-term profitability and growth for investors. Additionally, direct investment into nature-based solutions projects that aim to enhance biodiversity and deliver social outcomes, alongside carbon sequestration, has the potential to provide attractive returns whilst tackling key sustainability issues.

We have developed innovative solutions to support our efforts to deliver investment outcomes for our clients

We have developed innovative solutions such as data analytics tools to support our efforts to deliver investment outcomes for our clients. These solutions allow us to better identify, evaluate and track nature-related risks and opportunities across portfolios and provide our clients with data on the nature-related “footprint” of their investments.

We have integrated nature into the core of our firm’s “holistic stewardship” plans. Working together with companies to reverse biodiversity loss is a key part of this approach.4 In addition to our existing engagement programmes, we are excited to have launched our new Nature Engagement Programme. As part of this, we have selected globally significant players across our credit and equity portfolios that have substantial impacts and dependencies on biodiversity and forests, and which we hope can demonstrate leadership on this issue and catalyse systemic change across their respective industries.

To date, many sustainability initiatives have tended to focus on climate change, whilst not sufficiently recognising the interdependence between climate and nature. However, it is imperative to recognise that biodiversity loss is a critical driver of the climate crisis, just as climate change is a driver of biodiversity loss.5 As a result, the state of nature is critical to the climate crisis and protecting and restoring nature is crucial beyond climate considerations.

Protecting and restoring nature is crucial beyond climate considerations

Whilst substantive challenges remain, we believe nature can present significant opportunities for investors looking to position their portfolios for the future economy. These opportunities are there to be grasped by investors willing to look for them, and we are ready to take the lead in providing clients with the products and solutions in line with their sustainability preferences. We will continue to develop and refine our approach as data, modelling and policy and regulation matures in this fast-moving and dynamic space.

Finally, we are committed to working in partnership with investors to exchange views and progress action on the increasingly pressing challenges that protecting nature presents. Much remains to be done. But we believe that through responsible stewardship and a thoughtful approach to investment, asset managers like ourselves can support our clients to deliver on their investment goals, whilst contributing to the vital work of protecting and restoring our most precious asset – nature. This publication shows how.

Download “Navigating nature: Opportunities for the investor of tomorrow” to understand:

  • Why nature-related risks and opportunities matter
  • How investors can identify and engage with nature-related issues to seize opportunities
  • What actions we are taking to deliver outcomes that meet our clients’ needs and expectations and support global nature goals

References

  1. This is a framework that outlines the limits within which human activity can be considered sustainable. Source: Katherine Richardson, et. al., “Earth beyond six of nine planetary boundaries”, Science Advances, September 13, 2023.
  2. “Planetary boundaries”, Stockholm Resilience Centre, as of September 26, 2024.
  3. Rosamunde Almond, et. al., “Living Planet Report 2022 – Building a nature-positive society”, World Wildlife Fund, 2022.
  4. Download “Navigating nature: Opportunities for the investor of tomorrow” and see the section on “Unlocking long-term value through stewardship” for further detail.
  5. E. S. Brondizio, et. al., “Global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services”, IPBES, 2019.

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Key risks

Investment and currency risk

The value of an investment and any income from it can go down as well as up and can fluctuate in response to changes in currency and exchange rates. Investors may not get back the original amount invested.

Real estate and carbon infrastructure risks

For investments in real estate/infrastructure, investors may not be able to switch or cash in an investment when they want because real estate/infrastructure may not always be readily saleable. Investors should also bear in mind that the valuation of real estate is generally a matter of valuers’ opinion rather than fact.

Important information

THIS IS A MARKETING COMMUNICATION

Unless stated otherwise any opinions expressed are those of Aviva Investors. They should not be viewed as indicating any guarantee of return from an investment managed by Aviva Investors nor as personalised advice of any nature. This document should not be taken as a recommendation or offer by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such an offer is not authorised or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such an offer or solicitation. The legal documentation and the subscription documents should be read before an investment is made. Portfolio holdings are subject to change at any time without notice and information about specific securities should not be construed as a recommendation to buy or sell any securities.

For Investors located in EU/EEA countries, the Prospectus and Key Information Document (‘KID’), as well as the latest annual and semi-annual reports of Aviva Investors SICAV are available, free of charge from the registered office of the fund located at 2 rue du Fort Bourbon .L-1249 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, or from www.eifs.lu/avivainvestors. The Prospectus is available in English. Where a sub-fund of Aviva Investors SICAV is registered for public distribution in a jurisdiction, a KID in the official language of that jurisdiction will be available.

For investors located in France, the Fund documentation is also available at the registered office of the local agent: BNP Paribas Securities Services, 3 rue d’Antin, 75002 Paris, France. For investors located in Italy, the Fund documentation is available at the following local agent’s offices:

  • Allfunds Bank S.A.U, Legal Department Italy, via Bocchetto, 6, 20123 Milan, Italy
  • Société Générale Secrities Services S.p.A, Via Benigno Crespi 19/A, 20159 Milano, Italy

For investors located in Spain, the Fund documentation is available at the office of the local agent: Allfunds Bank S.A, Calle de los Padres Dominicos, 28050 Madrid, Spain. For investors located in Switzerland, the Fund documentation is available at the Swiss representative’s office BNP PARIBAS, Paris, Zurich branch, Selnaustrasse 16, 8002 Zurich, Switzerland. For Investors located in the UK, the Fund documentation is also available at the UK facilities’ registered office Aviva Investors Global Services Limited, 80 Fenchurch Street, London, EC3M 4AE, UK.

For UK investors in SICAV funds: This Fund is domiciled in Luxembourg and is authorised by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF). The Fund is recognised in the UK under the Overseas Funds Regime but is not a UK-authorised Fund and therefore is not subject to UK sustainable investment labelling disclosure requirements. UK investors should be aware that they can make a complaint about the fund, its management company, or its depositary. However, complaints may not be eligible for resolution by the UK’s Financial Ombudsman Service and any claims for losses related to the management company or depositary will not be covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). UK investors should consider seeking their own financial advice before making any decisions to invest and refer to the scheme prospectus for further information. Where relevant, information on our approach to the sustainability aspects of the fund and the Sustainable Finance disclosure regulation (SFDR) including policies and procedures can be found on the following link: https://www.avivainvestors.com/en-gb/capabilities/sustainable-financedisclosure-regulation/

In Europe, this document is issued by Aviva Investors Luxembourg, acting as the Management Company of the fund, with its registered office located 2 rue du Fort Bourbon, L-1249 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Aviva Investors Luxembourg is supervised by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier, R.C.S Luxembourg B25708. In the UK, this document is issued by Aviva Investors Global Services Limited, registered in England and Wales No. 1151805, with its registered office located at 80 Fenchurch Street, London, EC3M 4AE. Aviva Investors Global Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Firm Reference No. 119178. In Switzerland, this document is issued by Aviva Investors Schweiz GmbH.