Today will be the first meeting of the Natural Capital Coalition’s Operations Group, led by Coalition member, AECOM. The new group is designed to share knowledge and promote best practice across the global natural capital community. The group will focus on the practical application of the Natural Capital Protocol, which is due to be published by the Coalition in July of this year.

Applicable globally and across multiple business contexts, the Protocol and accompanying sector guides will provide a standardized framework for businesses to measure and value their direct and indirect impacts and dependencies on natural capital. A draft of the Protocol was launched at the World Forum on Natural Capital in November 2015, and is open for consultation until 26 February 2016. The document will then be further developed, before the global launch in July.

AECOM will be responsible for managing the Operations Group, which will provide a best practice forum for Coalition members who together represent a wide range of organizations, including charities, academia, associations, standard setters, finance and policy institutions and business. Representatives from numerous business sectors will be involved, including construction, food and beverages, property, and power & utilities. The group will work together to address challenges around the implementation of natural capital assessments, and will help members to better integrate natural capital considerations into their decision-making.

Mark Gough, Executive Director of the Natural Capital Coalition, said:

“The Coalition is built through collaboration, and it is wonderful that our partner AECOM have stepped forward to facilitate and run the Operations Group for us. They bring a wealth of experience in natural capital, and will, I am sure, help to draw out and clarify the many challenges that we all face in integrating our decision-making.”

Rosie Dunscombe, Principal Consultant, AECOM, said:

“The Operations Group is an important step forward in driving the natural capital agenda and improving sustainability performance globally. We hope the forum will be instrumental in helping organisations put nature at the heart of their decision-making. AECOM’s experience of developing natural capital policy and practice means we are well placed to steer the Group’s discussions and outputs.”

AECOM has delivered significant work on natural capital in recent years, including research on the impact of climate change on natural capital for the Committee on Climate Change, the development of practice notes on natural capital strategies for businesses for the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, and prepared Defra’s Best Practice Guide on Payment for Ecosystem Services. The company has also delivered award-winning natural capital work for the UK’s National Grid

NOTES TO EDITORS

AECOM
Rachel Brierley, Communications Manager
E: Rachel.brierley@aecom.com – T: +44 (0) 20 7821 4166

Natural Capital Coalition
Joseph Confino, Communications Officer, Natural Capital Coalition
E: Joseph.Confino@naturalcapitalcoalition.org – T: +44 (0) 20 7920 8921