Preserving natural systems is critical to the long-term sustainability of ecosystems and society. The rate of biodiversity and species loss worldwide is alarming.
As one of 17 ‘megadiverse’ countries, Australia is committed to finding ways to repair and better manage its ecosystems, as part of the world’s necessary transition to nature positive.
We recognise the significance and interconnectedness of Australia’s unique natural environment from multiple perspectives including water and land resources, business, finance, and society.
Expertise areas
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Circular economy, material systems and nature
We apply mixed research methods to understand how changes to material supply systems in response to societal goals and trajectories - such as the transition to a net-zero economy - will alter pressures on natural systems and biodiversity.
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Nature-Positive opportunities for Australia’s financial system
We apply finance sector expertise in climate and nature-related risk assessments; biodiversity markets; natural capital accounting; and nature-positive investing to build the finance sector's capacity to assess nature-related risks, and establish innovative nature-related investments.
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Nature and society
The interactions between nature and society determine how socio-ecological systems evolve and develop over time. We apply a diversity of qualitative research methods to identify the values, knowledge, practices, representations and governance systems that underpin the relationships individuals and communities forge with their environment.
Research news and projects
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PROJECT | 2025
Beyond extraction for renewables
Research that shows how a clean energy transformation across energy, transport and technology systems can be achieved without sacrificing vital ecosystems to greater terrestrial and deep-sea mining.
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Building better practice for renewable energy: Six ways to improve ecosystem outcomesWe identified six ways renewable energy infrastructures and technologies can improve their ecosystem outcomes throughout the project lifecycle.
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Integrating circular economy, climate change and biodiversity current practice and future directionsWe discuss current thinking and future directions on the integration of the circular economy, climate and nature agendas in Australia.
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Landholder participation in biodiversity offsettingThis project sought to understand whether landholders in the Sydney Basin can participate in the NSW Biodiversity Offsets Scheme (equity) and whether they want to (ethics).
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Governing the circular nutrient economy in the agrifood system: A case for an earth-centred approachThis work aims to lay the foundations for an ‘earth-centred’ governance framework that reprioritises nature in circular economy discourse.
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PROJECT | 2025
Systems Stewardship: Managing Interconnected Sustainability Risks for Lasting Value
We examined how Australian investors are applying systems stewardship in practice for our client, the Investor Group on Climate Change.
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Active restoration in the NSW Biodiversity offsets schemeWe investigated the perspectives of accredited assessors, government staff and restoration practitioners on the use of ‘active restoration’ in the context of offsetting.
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Blue foods as nature-based solutions for climate resilience in the PacificThis project aimed to identify the biodiversity, climate, food security and livelihood outcomes of blue food systems in the Pacific.
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PROJECT | 2019-2025
Climate-smart agriculture in the Indo-Pacific
Research to support climate resilience and food security in Papua New Guinea through the development and implementation of climate-smart agriculture.
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Nature-based Solutions for InsuranceWe reviewed current nature-based solutions, including carbon markets, biodiversity markets, the Taskforce for Nature-related Financial Disclosures, reinsurance pools, blended finance and more.
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Optimising Organic Waste and Cultivating Circularity for Australian AgricultureCircular economy for Australian agriculture, fisheries and forestry.
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PROJECT | 2024
Biodiversity Financing Mechanisms for the ACT
We reviewed and analysed the institutional and legal framework in the ACT to recommend legal, policy and regulatory reforms needed to enable a robust biodiversity financing mechanism.
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Sustainability performance assessment for palm oil producersWe developed a performance framework and assessment of the sustainability performance of nine key palm oil producers and their change over the past 10 years, including company interviews.
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Ecosystem impacts of phosphorus and surfactants in consumer products
We assessed of how consumer goods companies contribute to nutrient pollution and impact ecosystems, focussing on personal care products.
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Addressing plastic pollution in IndiaWe delivered a Forum of some of the largest local and multinational consumer goods companies in India to share knowledge and develop actions to reduce plastic packaging pollution in India.
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State of nature-related disclosuresThe Sustainable Investment Institute asked ISF to assess how companies are progressing in aligning with the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) recommendations and to identify emerging trends, best practices, and remaining gaps across priority sectors.
Team
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Senior Research ConsultantLandscape justice, peri-urban agriculture, market-based mechanisms for the protection of the environment.
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Research DirectorCircular supply chains and environmental governance for plastics and textiles.
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Research DirectorCorporate sustainability, responsible investment and sustainable finance.
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Senior Research ConsultantEnvironmental Scientist, policy and research on land, energy, water and biodiversity through geospatial analysis.
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Senior Research ConsultantCorporate sustainability, climate and nature-related financial disclosures.