Eunomia supported the Environment Agency in delivering one of the UK public sector’s most comprehensive nature footprint pilots to date, helping to strengthen understanding of how its activities affect and depend on the natural environment.
A nature footprint measures the demand that organisations and their activities place on biodiversity and natural resources, how they impact nature and how they depend on the ecosystem services that nature provides. Similarly to a carbon footprint, a nature footprint takes the whole value chain into account, considering upstream and downstream as well as direct operations.
The Environment Agency commissioned this project as part of its commitment to manage its impacts on nature and biodiversity with the same rigor as climate. The pilot supports evidence-based decision-making, strengthens sustainability reporting, and aligns with recommendations of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) by applying the LEAP approach (Locate, Evaluate, Assess, and Prepare).
We developed a practical, self-service tool and a repeatable methodology to help the Environment Agency assess its impacts and dependencies on nature. These new resources allow the Environment Agency to quantify its nature footprint and dependencies across the most material parts of its value chain. This provides the foundation for future assessment of nature-related risks and opportunities, and targeted action to support nature recovery.
Tom Raven, one of our natural economy experts involved in the project, said: “As the TNFD has yet to issue guidance tailored to public sector organisations, the Environment Agency’s work is breaking new ground. Conducting a nature footprint at this scale is a highly complex and bespoke undertaking. Each organisation faces unique challenges, and the Environment Agency’s size and scope requires careful interpretation of TNFD framework recommendations. Our expertise in the framework was instrumental in navigating these complexities.
“This pilot is a great case study for other public sector organisations to learn from if they are considering developing a TNFD report, or for those who have started exploring their relationship with nature and need support developing a nature footprint.”
Vicki Betts, Senior Sustainability Specialist at the Environment Agency, added: “Sustainability is no longer just about doing the ethical thing. It’s the smart, responsible way to manage the risks and opportunities that arise from our dependence on healthy air, land and water. Nature-related risks are as damaging to the economy as climate risks, so getting a grip on this is central to supporting sustainable growth. With so many possible metrics and indicators, and such a diverse range of interactions with the environment, it would have been easy to get lost in the data. Eunomia have helped us with the right evidence to base future decisions on so we can focus on what matters most.”
Now the pilot has provided proof of concept, we will support the Environment Agency in the next phase of this project to expand the scope of the assessment. Completing the nature footprint is part of commitments set out in eMission, the Environment Agency’s sustainability strategy.
If you are interested in broadening your understanding of the TNFD framework, watch our intro to the TNFD webinar for practical insights and guidance: https://youtu.be/X8P89fJnx2c
For more information about this project or to discuss how we can support your organisation, please get in touch with Tom Raven from our natural economy team.