“If you don’t know what your impact and dependencies are on the natural environment, you don’t know if your business is going to survive. And if you’re an investor, investing in such firms means backing a business that might not be around for the long term – and that’s a huge risk. The finance sector really understands that. ”
— Helen Avery
Biodiversity loss isn’t just an environmental issue – it’s a financial opportunity hiding in plain sight. But here’s the thing: while it’s just as important as tackling carbon emissions, natural capital is still flying under the radar for most businesses and investors.
That’s where today’s guest, Helen Avery, comes in. Helen is the Director of Nature Programs at the Green Finance Institute (GFI), and she’s on a mission to flip the script. Working at the crossroads of finance and nature, she is helping break down the barriers that are keeping private investment from flowing into biodiversity and sustainable landscapes.
Helen makes a compelling case: ignoring natural capital isn’t just bad for the planet – it’s bad business. She’s helping companies rethink the way they operate, from creating financial tools like carbon credits to embedding biodiversity right into their business models.
In this interview, Helen explains why biodiversity has been overlooked in the climate conversation and how the GFI is driving innovation to get private money moving into nature-positive projects.
We also talk about the big challenges – like scaling investments in natural capital – and why we need more leadership and collaboration to make restoring nature an economic no-brainer.
Tune in as we talk about how the finance world can drive meaningful change for our planet – and why it’s time to make that happen.
Don’t miss it!
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Castbox, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform. You can watch the interview on YouTube here.
What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.
SCROLL BELOW FOR LINKS AND SHOW NOTES…
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
- Connect with Helen: LinkedIn
- GFI website
- GFI Hive website
SHOW NOTES:
[00:00] Introduction
[03:40] Helen Avery’s background, education & early career
[15:47] Joining Green Finance Institute (GFI) in 2020
[21:13] GFI overview, mission, and theory of change
[31:18] The value of natural capital in driving investment returns
[42:06] GFI’s Nature Programs and its key focus areas
[46:39] Catalyzing private investment with structured approaches
[57:14] Reporting standards for nature-related risks
[01:05:27] Rapid fire questions
MORE HELEN AVERY QUOTES FROM THE INTERVIEW:
“Getting people to understand the need to invest in natural capital is a real challenge right now. Many say, ‘We’re focused on climate,’ but the truth is, they’re not focused on climate – they’re focused on carbon. ”
— Helen Avery
“We must make the point that nature is infrastructure, and our industries cannot survive without it. This will be a challenge, and it’s where strong government leadership is really needed. ”
— Helen Avery
