TNFD accelerates nature upskilling efforts with new platform and partnerships

The Taskforce for Nature-Related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) has launched a new platform to train companies on nature-related issues.

The capacity-building platform is part of TNFD’s work around helping the corporate world understand, measure and report nature impacts. It includes a Learning Lab for those who want to access knowledge and build skills independently and at their own pace, as well as a Trainer Portal with a suite of materials geared towards third-party education providers. 

Both can be accessed from the Knowledge Hub on the TNFD website, and are designed to provide businesses and financial professionals with the knowledge and tools they need to help them identify, assess, report and act on their nature impacts.

From low-hanging fruit to nature transition planning: Watch CSO Futures' nature webinar with TNFD and Aviva

Response to market demand

TNFD says it developed the upskilling platform in response to market demand from the 1,700 organisations that are now members of the TNFD Forum, as well as the 520 corporate adopters of its recommendations for nature-related disclosures. Existing guidance documents on its website were downloaded more than 300,000 times over the last 12 months.

Tony Goldner, Executive Director of the TNFD, said: “Across sectors and geographies, business and finance leaders increasingly realise that the resilience of their business and investment returns depends, in part, on the resilience of nature. The release of these learning tools on the TNFD website today is further evidence of the Taskforce’s commitment to equipping market participants with accessible, practical guidance as they look to build the confidence and capacity for their organisation to take concrete action.” 

Materials developed in collaboration with CISL

While the Learning Lab is a self-guided platform meant to support professionals of all levels with curated TNFD guidance content, the Trainer Portal offers a suite of ‘white label’ training materials that third-party education providers can incorporate into their branded programmes.

These materials were developed by TNFD in collaboration with the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL), and include presentation decks, teaching guides and break-out group exercises. These can also be customised to allow trainers to tailor the materials to different audiences, regions and sectors.

TNFD Technical Director: Time to 'get started' on nature disclosures

TNFD training for financial institutions and listed firms

Since launching its recommendations on nature-related financial disclosures in 2023, TNFD has focused mainly on upskilling corporate leaders on these issues. Alongside its new learning platform, the taskforce has also announced a joint initiative with UNEP FI, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) to deliver training to executives from global corporates, banks, insurers, asset managers and asset owners to better manage their nature-related issues.  

The Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative (SSEI) will also support listed companies and financial institutions in adopting and implementing the TNFD recommendations through a series of training programmes.  

Sébastien Soleille, Director of Sustainable Finance at the French Banking Association and former TNFD Taskforce member: "The Taskforce's work building the TNFD recommendations was only one step in the overall goal of supporting business and finance in integrating nature into decision-making. It's now necessary to ensure the market has the confidence and skills to assess, report and act on nature-related issues. Education and training play a critical role in enabling the market to act, by upskilling individuals and organisations of any sector, region or maturity. With these two new tools, organisations will be able to build knowledge and practical skills and move from awareness to implementation."