Accountability for Nature: Comparison of Nature-related Assessment and Disclosure Frameworks and Standards

This report, prepared jointly by the United Nations Environment Programme's World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) and the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI), provides an overview of key methodological and conceptual trends among private sector assessment and outreach approaches to nature-related issues.

It provides comparative research of seven leading standards, frameworks and systems for assessment and disclosure on nature-related issues, including:

• CDP Disclosure System
• European Standards for the Preparation of Sustainability Reports (ESRS)
• Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards
• International Sustainability Standards Council (ISSB) Standards
• Natural Capital Protocol
• Guidance for Scientific Objectives Network (SBTN) Goal-Setting
• Framework of the Working Group on Nature-Related Financial Disclosures (TNFD)

These approaches vary in their specific purpose, which includes outreach, evaluation, or goal setting, and so does their content. The aim of this report is to highlight common trends and to point out divergences related to the various objectives.

The landscape of private sector nature assessment and outreach will continue to evolve. Because all approaches have plans for future updates, the specific recommendations or requirements of different approaches may change. The transition from voluntary to mandatory disclosure requirements is likely to continue and will be observed in an increasing number of countries. UNEP FI and UNEP-WCMC intend to further develop future research comparing the revised approaches to better understand the progress on the trends highlighted in this report and the challenges of strengthening the approaches and their alignment.