Nature in Contracts

Yesterday we joined over 50 individuals from across the industry for the “Nature in Contracts” in person event, a collaborative effort led by The Chancery Lane, and strongly supported by Hoare Lea and us at UKGBC.

Yesterday, we joined over 50 individuals from across industry for the “Nature in Contracts” in-person event, a collaborative effort led by The Chancery Lane, and strongly supported by Hoare Lea and us at UKGBC. 

It was inspiring to see such an engaged room discussing how something as technical as contracts can actually become a lever for real change.  
 
In my lightning talk, I drew on our work at UKGBC developing the Framework Definition for a Nature-Positive Built Environment, for which we are collaborating with the industry to help add clarity on what nature-positive really means for our sector, and I’m excited to share some of those insights below. 

For me, the most important thing about contracts is this: they aren’t just paperwork or protection for liability. They can drive accountability, foster collaboration, and embed nature-positive action throughout the built environment.

Why Nature-Positive Matters

The global goal is clear: to halve and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 and to be nature-positive by 2050.

The urgency is real. In just 50 years, global wildlife populations have collapsed by 73 percent. In the UK, wildlife has fallen by 9 percent since 1970, on top of centuries of decline. These numbers can feel abstract, and it is easy to feel detached from them. 

But let me bring it closer to home. Nature has no boundaries. Ecosystems are continuous, and depletion here or on the other side of the world ultimately affects the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the materials we rely on- where the most vulnerable ones are the most affected. 

When nature is depleted, people and businesses are at risk. The physical, financial, social, and moral consequences of inaction are enormous, and I am sure that anyone reading this blog would like a limited and depleted future.

The built environment’s role

The built environment sits at the heart of this challenge, but for the same reason, is a huge part of the solution.

If you consider that over half of all global resource extraction feeds construction, and that cities drive 75% of biodiversity loss through land use, material demand, and energy use, how much good, how much nature enhancement , could we give back to nature if we acted appropriately for it? 

There are so many chances where we can get this right. Every stage of the building cycle, from materials to operation to waste, leaves an impact on nature. How could it be if that impact were positive? 

The exam question is: What actions can the built environment take to halt biodiversity loss and enhance nature? And ultimately, what does a nature-positive built environment look like?

A Framework for Change

This is where UKGBC’s Framework Definition for a Nature-Positive Built Environment comes in. 

As project lead, I’ve seen how valuable it can be to have a shared vision that sets out scope, responsibilities, and the concrete actions needed to reverse biodiversity loss. The framework is about ensuring that across organisations, projects, and supply chains, stakeholders are aware of their impacts and equipped to make better decisions for nature at every stage. 

Here is where contracts can come in. 

Clear blue summer skies and vibrant green patchwork fields above the iconic Cotswold village of Painswick, with its honey coloured limestone cottages and historic church spire. Representative of nature and biodiversity.

Why Contracts?

Embed accountability

for nature-positive actions.

Act as a reminder

of what’s necessary for a thriving future.

Serve as an invitation

to collaborate, aligning diverse stakeholders around a shared commitment to do better for people and nature.

There is no single silver bullet to becoming nature-positive. We need a diversity of actions, and contracts can be one practical tool we have for adding business resilience, as well as, and most importantly, environmental resilience. 

Here’s What I Captured from the Discussions

1

Nature as an Investment

Nature isn’t a nice to have. Green spaces and nature-based solutions reduce maintenance costs, improve wellbeing, and make places more desirable. Contracts can lock in these long-terms benefits.
2

Clarity and Pragmatism

Clear, measurable obligations give teams confidence. Clauses need to be pragmatic, enforceable and collaborative as much as possible.
3

Complexity and Integration

Nature-positve action is complex, touching climate, wellbeing, corporate responsibility, and ethics. Contracts can guide teams, making expectations clear and helping everyone know what to do and why.
4

Metrics and Patience

Metrics are key to set measure progress and align to targets. Too many misaligned metrucs create confusion and add complexity in a world that cannot cope with reporting already. It’s best to apply “less is more” and progress in this aspect takes patience, realistic targets, and tolerance for gradual improvement.
5

Supply Chain and Maintenance

Supply chain was perhaps the most mentioned term at the event, and I mentioned it myself. Tracing where materials come from and using contracts to monitor and manage impacts can make a real difference.

“Business is such a powerful creative force on this planet; a force that is able to contribute either constructively or destructively to the future vitality of life on Earth.” 

— Giles Hutchins, Regenerative Leadership 

Contracts aren’t just paperwork. Done well, they turn intentions into action, align stakeholders, and help the built environment leave a positive legacy for people and nature. 

A Powerful Reminder

Yesterday’s conversations reminded me just how much power our industry holds, and how much responsibility comes with it. If we can make even our contracts vehicles for positive change, then we are taking action in our hands (and paper) to lock in the shift in our system towards a future where both people and nature thrive. 

Related

AGM 2025 Results

UKGBC’s Annual General Meeting took place on 23 September at 150 Holborn in London, with strong member participation. All proposed resolutions were approved, including the election of new board members Miles Lewis, Eva MacNamara, and Jennifer Waterhouse, as well as the reappointment of Sunand Prasad OBE, Lorna Walker, Victoria Quinlan, Basil Demeroutis, and Judith Everett.
24 Sep, 2025
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