The European Commission has launched its 'Roadmap towards Nature Credits' report.

The roadmap was developed with stakeholders and sets out a bottom-up approach which aims to develop standards and certification for nature-positive actions to make nature credits effective and trustworthy, while avoiding administrative burden.

The commission said that nature credits will complement existing public funding for biodiversity as an additional and voluntary source of financing for nature-positive actions.

Jessika Roswall, Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy said nature credits have the potential to attract essential private investment, while also rewarding those who are the custodians of our land and seas.

“With this roadmap, we are taking a bold step to recognise nature as a strategic asset for Europe’s future,” she said.

“Our goal is clear: working hand in hand with nature and turning this into an opportunity for a resilient and competitive economy.”

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The EU is currently piloting nature credit initiatives in France, Estonia, and Peru and is working with international partners such as the Biodiversity Credit Alliance, the World Economic Forum and the International Advisory Panel on Biodiversity Credits.

The commission invites all interested parties: businesses, scientists, governments, and civil society, to engage in shaping this initiative through an open call for feedback open until 30 September 2025.

In addition, the commission will establish a new expert group to foster this bottom-up approach. The call for expression of interest to join this group is open until 10 September 2025 at the latest.

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission added that this will put nature on the balance sheet.

“That’s exactly what nature credits do. When well-designed, they will provide an efficient, market-driven instrument that encourage the private sector to invest and innovate.

“With investment and innovation, we generate revenue for those who work to protect nature, including our farmers, our landowners, our foresters.

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