Accelerating TNFD-aligned nature risk assessment with NatureAlpha
A recent collaboration between DNV and NatureAlpha demonstrates how advanced analytics can streamline TNFD‑aligned nature and climate risk assessments, even in data‑poor environments.
As nature-related risk increasingly features on the regulatory and investor agenda, clients are asking for robust, disclosure-ready assessments aligned with the TNFD framework and the in-development ISSB Nature‑related Disclosure Standard.
For infrastructure operators in particular, understanding ecosystem dependencies and impacts is becoming a core resilience issue.
In a recent trial, a port operator commissioned DNV to conduct a TNFD-aligned nature-related risk and opportunity assessment across three ports. The objective was to identify material risks, provide strategic recommendations, and ensure the output was suitable for inclusion in the customer’s ESG reporting.
Overcoming data gaps with NatureAlpha
Like many infrastructure and marine operators, the customer encountered challenges related to the availability of site‑specific biodiversity data, availability of ecological baselines, all whilst operating within complex coastal and marine environments. Traditionally, addressing these gaps would require extensive field surveys and local stakeholder engagement, resulting in significant time and budget.
DNV integrated NatureAlpha’s geospatial analytics into the assessment process, enabling rapid progress through the TNFD LEAP framework’s Locate, Evaluate, and Assess stages.
“The NatureAlpha platform allows us to quickly triage sites and prioritize risks, completing early-stage analysis more efficiently and cost-effectively than traditional fieldwork”, says Mike Sims Commercial/BNG Service Lead in Energy Systems.
NatureAlpha provided structured ecological evidence base from the outset, offering:
- Quantitative biodiversity disturbance and ecosystem integrity indicators
- Marine ecosystem pressure metrics
- Water stress and pollution exposure data
- Ecosystem service dependency insights
- Proximity to protected areas and Key Biodiversity Areas
- Composite nature risk scores benchmarked against global thresholds
These metrics served as proxy ecological baselines, allowing rapid screening even without detailed field surveys.
Targeted environmental insight
The analytics revealed differing nature‑related risk profiles across the customer’s port assets, including variation in biodiversity sensitivity, water‑related pressures, and ecosystem service dependencies.
By pinpointing the overlap between exposure, ecological sensitivity, and gaps in existing mitigation measures, DNV could focus on targeted desk analysis - reviewing species distribution data, environmental reports, and documented mitigation measures - rather than broad, time‑intensive research.
This approach accelerated delivery, filled high‑level data gaps, and provided a clear focus for detailed consultant‑led research, aligned with ESG and TNFD expectations.
Integrating nature and climate risk
In parallel, DNV conducted a physical climate risk assessment for the port assets which highlighted the interdependencies between nature and climate, for example:
- Healthy coastal and marine ecosystems can play a role in reducing flood and storm impacts
- Habitat degradation can increase vulnerability to extreme rainfall and other hazards
This integrated analysis strengthened the customer’s resilience narrative and the potential for synergistic response solutions addressing the climate-nature nexus.
From biodiversity data to decision-ready intelligence
The trial demonstrated a TNFD‑aligned methodology for assessing nature‑related (and climate) risks and opportunities, enabling:
- Rapid triage using a consistent evidence base
- Clear prioritisation for deeper investigation
- Actionable, site‑specific recommendations
Importantly, whilst this trial applied to a small group of assets, the approach is scalable and can be extended across larger portfolios where prioritisation is essential, and data gaps are common.
Through this collaboration, DNV and NatureAlpha provided the customer with structured, decision‑ready nature‑related insights, and in a regulatory environment where nature‑related risk increasingly affects financial and operational resilience, having a rapid, consistent, and defensible assessment methodology is essential.
For DNV, this project illustrates how combining advanced geospatial analytics with advisory expertise strengthens delivery, enhances credibility, and unlocks new opportunities in nature‑related risk advisory.