Sustainable finance: Nature Bonds Initiative launched to build a bond market for biodiversity

The Nature Bonds Initiative (NBI), a Swiss-based association, was launched on 7 October 2026 to develop standards and market infrastructure for nature-linked bonds. It seeks to open the global bond market to nature by creating fixed-income products that reflect the value of biodiversity and ecosystems.

The organisers say nature underpins more than half of global GDP but remains largely unpriced in financial markets. They argue that without agreed standards, replicable structures and investor-grade disclosure, nature-linked debt will remain a niche segment. NBI's stated mission is to mobilise global capital at scale for nature protection and restoration.

It offers certification of early-mover transactions by independent third parties; a science-based taxonomy defining what qualifies as a…