A-Track: new project to boost action for nature
A-Track is a new four-year, €11 million project that will accelerate action for nature by business, financial institutions and government.
As a partner in A-Track, VITO is co-leading the project with Capitals Coalition and will provide practical solutions for biodiversity data pathways.
Businesses, financial institutions and governments across Europe are increasingly recognizing that they depend on nature and that action for nature can help them to build resilience, manage risks and increase value. Over the last decade, new guidance, tools, methods, data and training materials have been developed to support measuring impacts and dependencies on nature and integrating this knowledge into decision making.
However, despite increasing commitments to change, nature is still in crisis and there is an urgent need to further accelerate action for nature. The European Green Deal and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework have established a clear policy context for this acceleration, with key actions for business, finance and government. Yet, organizations often struggle to navigate the complexities of nature and the related risks and opportunities. Understanding what tools to use or what actions should be taken can be overwhelming.
Through A-Track, existing tools and approaches will be brought together and developed further. A-Track will make it easier for organizations to identify the most appropriate way forward for their sector and scale, to unlock the most relevant natural capital and biodiversity information for a range of applications and ultimately make more informed decisions that accelerate action for nature positive outcomes.
A-Track will create robust and reliable resources, targeted to the needs of key decision makers that:
- support the flows of biodiversity information for use in business, finance and government decisions
- strengthen consideration of biodiversity and ecosystem services in life cycle assessment for products and organizations
- mainstream and advance natural capital assessment and accounting across society
- facilitate the adoption and scaling of business models that contribute to nature positive outcomes
- nurture financial innovations that contribute to nature positive outcomes
A-Track brings together leading thought leaders and practitioners who have been driving change in the measurement and valuation of natural capital and biodiversity in business, finance and government. Partners have led the development or implementation of guidelines and standards for measurement of nature impacts and dependencies for improved decision-making, including biodiversity footprinting, natural capital assessment and accounting, and business models and finance that contribute to nature positive outcomes.
The project is funded by the European Union's Horizon Europe programme with co-funding from UK Research and Innovation and the Swiss National Science Foundation.
The eleven A-Track partners are: Capitals Coalition, VITO, UNEP-WCMC, Tecnalia, World Business Council for Sustainable Development, Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, Oppla, Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, University of Stuttgart and IDEEA Global.
Ultimately, through supporting businesses, financial institutions and governments to consider impacts and dependencies on natural capital, and associated risks and opportunities, A-Track aims to support nature positive outcomes, the European Green Deal and worldwide action under the Global Biodiversity Framework, accelerating the conservation and restoration of nature.
The A-Track team aims to develop practical tools and resources that address concrete business needs and challenges. Complete a short project survey to shape and gain access to project outputs such as training materials, guides, and case studies.
