The government has called for the launch of industry plans to restore nature

The government must develop industry-specific strategies to help achieve national and global environmental goals, WWF and Aviva said.

The wildlife charity and insurance giant said companies need “clarity and stability” before investing in solutions that restore nature and move away from environmentally damaging practices.

In a joint report on Tuesday, they called on the UK government to set out clear plans and strategies – dubbed “environmentally positive pathways”.

They would provide guidance to policymakers and the private sector on how different key economic sectors, such as the built environment, agriculture, finance and transport, can contribute to achieving nature and biodiversity goals, he said.

Under the UN Global Biodiversity Framework, the UK has committed to protecting 30% of the country’s land and sea for nature recovery by 2030.

WWF and Aviva said eco-friendly pathways are a policy tool based on the UK Committee on Climate Change’s Net Zero Pathways, which cover sector-by-sector decarbonisation strategies.

They said nature pathways need to be integrated with existing net zero sector plans to develop an overarching strategy that jointly addresses both the climate and nature crises.

Karen Ellis, WWF chief economist, said: “Businesses are telling us that the transition to an eco-friendly, net-zero economy is one of the biggest business opportunities since the Industrial Revolution.

“But companies need transparency and stability before they invest in the solutions we need to restore nature and move away from practices that harm it.

“That’s why the government must set clear pathways for key economic sectors, such as those designed to help tackle the climate crisis.”

The report recommends nature-friendly pathways follow the government’s publication of its updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) next month.

The plans would also enable the government to leverage the benefits of the transition and attract private financial flows by clarifying policy direction, aligning with the goals of the UN framework and encouraging long-term investment, she added.

Claudine Blamey, chief sustainability officer at Aviva, said: “Developing eco-friendly pathways alongside net zero emissions pathways will provide much-needed clarity on how different sectors of the economy are to transform to protect and restore nature.

“This would lead to greater investment in nature and increase the active role the private sector can play in contributing to the urgent changes we need.”

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Helen Avery, of the Green Finance Institute, said: “Eco-friendly pathways guide businesses and financial institutions on how they can join the Government’s mission to build a resilient, sustainable and prosperous UK economy.

“They provide the private sector with a clear vision of how to contribute to national and international environmental goals and reduce nature-related risks.

“This report lays the foundations for the future development of nature-positive sector pathways across the UK, which will serve to unlock large-scale investment.”

A spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the Government was committed to nature by taking action to meet the aims of the Environment Act to restore and protect the natural world.

They said a rapid review of the Environmental Improvement Plan has been announced and a new statutory plan will be developed that will focus on cleaning up waterways, reducing waste, planting millions more trees, improving air quality and halting species extinctions by 2030.