Course Introduction

ESG for Business in Biodiversity Restoration & Nature-Positive Economy
(Integrating ESG into Core Business Strategy for Nature Restoration and a Nature-Positive Economy)

In light of escalating global crises—namely climate change and biodiversity loss—both recognized as systemic risks by the United Nations (UN) and the World Economic Forum (WEF), the private sector must play an urgent and transformative role in advancing planetary restoration while ensuring long-term competitiveness and resilience.

This course is strategically designed to strengthen the private sector’s capacity to integrate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into core business strategy, with a particular focus on biodiversity restoration and the advancement of a nature-positive economy. These dimensions are increasingly central to international sustainability frameworks and policy mandates.

The course structure is aligned with globally endorsed standards and instruments, including:

• The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
• The Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)
• The Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)
• The FTSE Russell ESG standards
• The Climate Action Forum (CAF) platform under the auspices of the United Nations

Course Objectives

• To deepen understanding of ESG as a strategic imperative, not merely as corporate social responsibility.
• To build organizational capacity for identifying ESG risks and opportunities through global frameworks such as SDG Mapping, TNFD, TCFD, and FTSE Russell.
• To enhance executive insight into the relationship between business operations and nature, particularly through the lens of supply chain impacts and restoration potential.
• To equip participants with practical tools for developing measurable and finance-linked Nature-Positive strategies.
• To prepare organizations and leadership teams to engage with the UN-recognized processes of Announcement, Recognition, and Publication, as part of advancing international visibility and credibility.

Expected Outcomes

Organizations completing this course will be equipped to shift from practitioner to leader in ESG implementation, and to unlock strategic advantages, including:

• Preferential access to low-cost capital via green loans and sustainability-linked instruments
• Enhanced equity valuation through improved ESG ratings
• Eligibility for international supply chain partnerships as sustainability champions
• Strengthened collaboration with government and international bodies
• Eligibility for nomination to present initiatives at the Climate Action Forum (CAF) at the United Nations Headquarters

Organizations that fully understand and systematically apply ESG—especially in the realms of climate action and biodiversity restoration—will not only survive the transition to a sustainable global economy, but will help lead it.

This course is part of the Sustainism Initiatives framework, formally recognized by international institutions such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Asian Forum for the Environment (AFMA), and aims to position forward-thinking businesses as official development partners on the global stage.

MODULE 1 : ESG as Core Business Strategy

In the context of the modern global economy, operating a business in alignment with ESG principles—Environmental, Social, and Governance—is no longer optional, but a strategic imperative. Organizations that successfully embed ESG into their core strategies are better equipped to manage systemic risks, respond to stakeholder expectations, and enhance long-term competitiveness.

Clear ESG direction, beginning at the policy and strategic levels, enables organizations to align with international frameworks such as FTSE Russell, ISSB, and the SDGs. This alignment facilitates access to green capital markets and sustainability-linked financing, while strengthening trust among global partners, investors, and the public.

In sum, placing ESG at the heart of corporate strategy establishes a foundation for becoming a “future-ready organization”—one that delivers positive impact to society and the environment, while maintaining financial resilience and sustainable growth.

MODULE 2 : ESG Risk & Opportunity Assessment

Effective sustainability management begins with the systematic assessment of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) risks and opportunities, guided by internationally recognized frameworks such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), and the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD).

Organizations must undertake a materiality analysis to identify key issues where the business either impacts or is impacted by environmental and social dynamics, as well as stakeholder expectations. This process is not merely technical—it is foundational for setting specific, measurable ESG targets and for fostering credible communication with internal and external stakeholders.

This module includes a practical workshop to support organizations in identifying and prioritizing ESG risks and opportunities. The outcome will inform the development of policies, strategies, and action plans that are context-driven and aligned with the organization’s value chain, enabling resilience and long-term value creation.

MODULE 3 : Understanding Climate Change, Biodiversity & Business

(Grasping the Interlinkages Between Global Warming, Ecosystem Integrity, and Business Responsibility)

In today’s global economy, businesses cannot achieve long-term growth without addressing two deeply interconnected global risks: climate change and biodiversity loss. Both are systemic risks that threaten supply chain resilience, resource security, access to capital, and institutional credibility.

This module is designed to enable participants to understand the following

Biodiversity is the foundation of the ecosystems upon which businesses rely for production, services, and innovation.
Biodiversity is not merely a natural resource—it is natural capital that sustains economic systems directly. From food and pharmaceuticals to construction materials and nature-based innovations, biodiversity underpins all productive sectors. Businesses that recognize this relationship will be better positioned to safeguard their resource base and design system-aligned sustainability strategies.

Understanding a business’s position within the impact or restoration chain is essential.
Every organization, directly or indirectly, contributes to either the degradation or restoration of biodiversity—through sourcing, land use, waste management, and broader supply chain activities. Identifying where a company sits within this ecological matrix is critical to designing Nature Positive policies that align with SDG Target 15.9, which calls on the private sector to integrate ecosystem values into strategic planning and decision-making.

Biodiversity loss is not solely an environmental issue—it is a systemic risk with economic consequences.
As identified by the World Economic Forum, biodiversity loss ranks among the top five global risks, with wide-ranging implications for food security, public health, and sustainable economic development. Overlooking this risk is not merely a reputational concern; it directly threatens long-term business viability in terms of resource access, productivity, and competitiveness in global markets.

Participants will explore their own supply chain impacts on nature and examine global case studies of businesses that have implemented Nature Positive strategies—demonstrating how ecological restoration can drive both environmental outcomes and business advantage.

MODULE 4 : Nature Positive Business Strategy

(From Policy to Measurable Outcomes through Financial Mechanisms and ESG Integration)

In the context of global sustainable development, the concept of “Nature Positive” has emerged as a strategic imperative for the private sector. Operating a business in a way that contributes positively to nature entails not only reducing ecological impacts but also implementing systemic and sustainable mechanisms to restore natural resources.

This module is designed to ensure participants gain a profound understanding that Nature Positive is not merely an ethical aspiration, but a strategic framework that fully integrates with ESG principles. A Nature Positive strategy allows organizations to align environmental objectives with corporate outcomes through actionable policies and quantifiable implementation plans.

The course further examines the deployment of modern financial instruments that enable and accelerate Nature Positive transitions, including:

• Green Bonds and Sustainability-Linked Loans: Access to capital at preferential terms, conditioned on clear ESG performance targets, enhancing financial efficiency and institutional investor confidence.
• Impact Investment: A form of capital deployment that pursues measurable environmental and social outcomes alongside financial returns, tailored to investors seeking both profit and purpose.
• Green Mergers & Acquisitions (Green M&A): Strategic consolidation or acquisition of sustainability-rooted enterprises, accelerating green transitions and enhancing ESG competitiveness.
• ESG-Driven Equity Value Creation: Strengthening ESG ratings to positively influence equity valuation, shareholder trust, and international investment attractiveness.
• Green Innovation Grant Access: Leveraging ESG credentials to access environmental innovation grants, public subsidies, and mission-aligned capital funds supporting sustainable technologies.

Together, these mechanisms provide a robust pathway for translating Nature Positive intent into tangible economic results, positioning the enterprise as a credible and forward-looking actor within the international sustainability ecosystem.

MODULE 5 : What the UN Expects from Business
(Business Roles in Supporting the SDGs and Global Restoration in Practice)

The United Nations has outlined clear expectations for the proactive involvement of the private sector in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a particular emphasis on

SDG 13 – Climate Action: Businesses are expected to accelerate GHG emissions reduction across all scopes, strengthen climate resilience, and invest in low-carbon innovation and energy systems.

SDG 14 – Life Below Water: Companies must contribute to the conservation of marine ecosystems by addressing pollution in production chains, reducing plastic usage, and promoting sustainable fisheries and aquaculture practices.

SDG 15 – Life on Land: Businesses should engage in ecosystem restoration, prevent deforestation, and operate with accountability in land and biodiversity use.

Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF): Enterprises are called upon to develop and disclose biodiversity strategies aligned with the 2030 goals under COP15, contributing to global conservation and restoration targets.

Furthermore, the private sector plays a vital role in advancing SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals, by forming multi-stakeholder collaborations with governments, international agencies, academia, and civil society to build transparent and verifiable ESG ecosystems.

Organizations that internalize these frameworks, and demonstrate leadership by having over 80% of management and departmental heads undergo sustainability evaluation through the SUSTAINISM INITIATIVES partner network, will be eligible for selection to present at the CAF2026 (Climate Action Forum) at the United Nations. Selected organizations may also be featured in official UN-aligned publications as regional ESG exemplars.

Note

Organizations wishing to undergo executive-level assessment in order to receive an official certificate of recognition as a “Business Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”, and to be eligible for nomination to present climate and biodiversity restoration initiatives at the United Nations, are invited to request the official Training and Evaluation Guideline from the Director of Sustainism Initiatives.

This guideline includes internationally recognized Executive-level ESG Criteria, a training framework aligned with the mandates of the United Nations, and qualification benchmarks used to identify exemplary organizations in the Asia-Pacific region. These benchmarks evaluate readiness for Sustainability Announcement, Recognition, and Publication under certification systems aligned with the UN SDGs, the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), and the Climate Action Forum (CAF).