Asia Is Shaping the Future of Biodiversity Markets: Inside a New Chapter for Global Nature Finance
- World Climate Foundation
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
A World Climate Foundation Thought-Leadership Article
By George Hu, Regional Representative, Asia, World Climate Foundation
Belém, Brazil — COP30 Edition
The story of climate action is rapidly becoming the story of nature action. At COP30 in Belém, this shift was unmistakable. Across negotiations, pavilions, and side events, the message was clear: there is no net-zero without nature, and no resilient economy without biodiversity. And the emerging leaders in this transformation are increasingly found in Asia.
At the World Climate Summit (WCS), held alongside COP30, a landmark session co-hosted by BioPlus, the Taiwan University Experimental Forest (NTUEF), and the Asian Biodiversity Credit Alliance (ABCA) offered a glimpse into the future of high-integrity nature finance. The workshop—“Building Integrity and Collaboration in Asia’s Biodiversity Credit Development”—showcased breakthroughs that are rapidly reshaping global expectations for biodiversity markets.
Why Nature Finance, Why Now
In his opening remarks, Jens Nielsen, CEO of the World Climate Foundation, delivered a message that resonated across COP30: nature is the living infrastructure of our economies, and securing it requires science and finance pulling in the same direction.
More than one million species now face extinction. The biodiversity finance gap exceeds USD 700 billion annually. Governments cannot bridge this alone. New models—biodiversity credits, nature bonds, blended finance vehicles, and emerging disclosure frameworks under TNFD, SBTN, and IFRS—are redefining what credible action looks like.
“Biodiversity credits, when built on scientific integrity, can translate ecological urgency into financial trust,” Nielsen emphasized, reinforcing WCF’s commitment to enabling such high-impact mechanisms through the World Climate & Biodiversity Summit and the Nature Investment Coalition.
Asia’s Turning Point: From Hotspot to Global Solution Hub
Asia is home to the world’s richest biological diversity—and some of its highest climate-nature risks. Yet, as NTUEF Director Professor Tsai Ming-Jer noted in his keynote, the region is not only responding to this challenge; it is rapidly positioning itself as a provider of global solutions.
Across Asia:
Japan has integrated over 200 OECM sites into corporate disclosure frameworks.
Korea launched the 30×30 Alliance linking government and business.
Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam are experimenting with green bonds, biodiversity taxes, and Indigenous-led restoration.
Taiwan, through NTUEF, has developed some of Asia’s first science-based biocredit methodologies—linking biodiversity, carbon, and ecosystem indicators into verifiable metrics.
The momentum is structural, not symbolic. Asia is moving from being a biodiversity hotspot to becoming a biodiversity solutions hub.
NTUEF: 120 Years of Science Driving Financial Integrity
A core highlight of the WCS session was the presentation from NTUEF of one of Asia’s first comprehensive biodiversity-credit methodologies. Built on 120 years of ecological data, the NTUEF framework operationalizes what the OECD calls essential for credible nature markets: strong baselines, measurability, additionality, permanence, and independent verification.
Key features include:
At least five measurable biodiversity indicators per methodology
A credit unit representing 1% improvement or avoided loss per hectare over a 5-year cycle
Alignment with TNFD, SBTN, and IFRS S1/S2, and the coming S3
Long-term monitoring and MRV rooted in real science
“Integrity is the foundation of credible nature markets, and Asia now has the scientific backbone to lead,” Tsai emphasized.
Introducing ABCA: Asia’s First Region-Wide Science Alliance for Biodiversity Credits
In July 2025, a major regional milestone was reached with the creation of the Asian Biodiversity Credit Alliance (ABCA)—a nine-university coalition spanning Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka.
ABCA was designed for one purpose: to build integrity before markets form. The alliance is pioneering:
Harmonized, peer-reviewed biocredit methodologies
Shared ecological baselines across diverse ecosystems
Support for government and financial-sector pilots
MRV systems reflecting both scientific rigor and local cultural knowledge
Future cross-recognition of biodiversity credits
At COP30, BioPlus described ABCA as a “generational shift”—Asia’s scientific institutions taking collective responsibility for shaping a trustworthy biodiversity market before global forces shape it for them.
Recognizing Early Leaders: Finance, Science, and Communities
The WCS session also featured a certification ceremony recognizing institutions pioneering science-based biodiversity credit methodologies and locally led agroforestry efforts:
E.Sun Financial Holdings – Alpine Biodiversity Methodology
Cathay Financial Holdings – Foothill & Low-Mountain Biodiversity Methodology
Hualien County Government – Organic Farming Biodiversity Methodology
Attabu Cultural Foundation – Community-led urban and agroforestry innovation
Their contributions mark some of Asia’s earliest attempts to translate scientific baselines into investment-ready nature programs.
Panel Insights: Trust, Data, and Partnership
A panel moderated by WCF’s Asia Representative George Hu brought together NTUEF scientists Dr. Wei Chiang and Dr. Po-Neng Chiang, along with Helcio Marcelo de Souza, IPLC Strategic Lead at The Nature Conservancy Brazil. Panelists highlighted three truths essential for credible nature markets:
Trust is the currency of biodiversity markets.
Without transparent baselines and long-term monitoring, biodiversity credits risk greenwashing.
Data is the backbone of investment.
Investors require metrics they can defend. Scientists must translate complexity into usable indicators.
Indigenous Peoples and local communities must be co-creators—not participants.
The future of biodiversity markets depends on inclusive frameworks that elevate local stewardship and ensure benefit-sharing.
This convergence of science, finance, and Indigenous partnership reflects WCF’s long-standing belief that collaboration multiplies impact.
The Road Ahead: Asia’s Expanding Leadership Pathway
Looking ahead, the World Climate Foundation is actively exploring opportunities to convene partners across Asia to accelerate high-integrity nature finance. Building on the momentum from COP30 and the growing scientific collaboration across the region, WCF is assessing potential formats, locations, and partnerships for future gatherings that can deepen cross-sector engagement on biodiversity, climate, and sustainable finance.
Tokyo is among the locations under consideration for a future World Climate & Biodiversity Summit, which would bring together leading financial institutions, policymakers, scientific experts, Indigenous leaders, and innovators shaping next-generation nature investment frameworks. While details remain under development,
WCF’s goal is clear:
to strengthen Asia’s role in shaping the global nature-positive transition and integrate regional scientific breakthroughs—such as NTUEF’s methodologies and ABCA’s collaboration—into global decision-making spaces.
By working closely with regional partners, WCF aims to ensure that future convenings—whether in Tokyo or elsewhere in Asia—reflect the needs, priorities, and ambition of the world’s most biodiverse and economically dynamic region.
Conclusion: A New Center of Gravity for Nature Finance
The world has lost more than 70% of wildlife populations since 1970. Yet half of global GDP still depends on nature’s services. The cost of inaction has surpassed the cost of action.
But at COP30, one conclusion became clear:
Asia is no longer waiting for global direction—Asia is helping provide it.
Through scientific integrity, institutional collaboration, and financial innovation, the region is demonstrating what a trustworthy biodiversity market can look like.
And through the World Climate Foundation’s platform, these regional breakthroughs are becoming global momentum—linking science to markets, markets to policy, and policy to the regeneration of the living world.
This is the future of nature finance. And the work starts now.
Asia Is Shaping the Future of Biodiversity Markets: Inside a New Chapter for Global Nature Finance