What does 30 by 30 mean — and which companies need to report on biodiversity today?
The Kunming-Montreal Agreement, the CSRD Omnibus Reform and the EU Nature Credits Roadmap — what companies need to know and what's coming.
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Current insights on biodiversity, nature credits, regulatory developments and nature-based investment.
The Kunming-Montreal Agreement, the CSRD Omnibus Reform and the EU Nature Credits Roadmap — what companies need to know and what's coming.
Read article →Biodiversity is increasingly moving to the centre of corporate sustainability agendas. But what exactly does the global 30 by 30 goal mean — and which companies are already legally required to act?
In December 2022, nearly 200 countries adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework — a landmark agreement comparable in ambition to the Paris Agreement, but focused on nature. The headline commitment: protect 30% of the planet's land and oceans by 2030, and put at least 30% of degraded ecosystems under effective restoration by 2030.
Today, only about 17% of land and 8% of oceans are protected. The gap is substantial — and closing it requires not just government action, but private investment at scale.
Entering into force in August 2024, the EU Nature Restoration Law sets legally binding targets for ecosystem restoration across member states. It is the first law of its kind in Europe — and signals that biodiversity protection is now enforceable policy, not voluntary commitment.
The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) introduces mandatory biodiversity reporting under the European Sustainability Reporting Standard ESRS E4. Following the Omnibus reform, the scope has been significantly narrowed:
Directly affected: Companies with more than 1,000 employees and more than €450 million in turnover are subject to mandatory CSRD reporting — first required in 2028 for the 2027 financial year. This reduces the number of companies in scope by roughly 90% compared to the original plans.
Indirectly affected: Many more companies face growing pressure through their supply chains. Banks, institutional investors and large customers increasingly request biodiversity data from their suppliers and partners — regardless of whether mandatory reporting applies directly.
Under ESRS E4, companies must disclose their material impacts, risks and opportunities related to biodiversity and ecosystems. The TNFD LEAP approach — Locate, Evaluate, Assess, Prepare — provides the internationally recognised methodology for conducting this analysis.
In July 2025, the European Commission published its Roadmap towards Nature Credits — a political signal that a voluntary market for biodiversity certificates is being actively developed at EU level. Nature Credits are certified units representing a measurable improvement of ecosystems: species richness, water quality, intact habitats.
Unlike carbon credits, Nature Credits are inherently more complex to standardise. The specific measurement methodologies, verification procedures and certification obligations are still being developed. The EU framework is expected to be built by around 2027.
Whether directly subject to CSRD or not, a structured first step makes sense for most companies. The TNFD LEAP approach provides a practical framework for a high-level materiality analysis: identifying where your business depends on nature, and where it has an impact on ecosystems.
This does not require a biology degree. It requires the right methodology, honest data, and a clear understanding of what investors, regulators and supply chain partners will expect in the coming years.
This is where 30 by 30 comes in: I help companies understand biodiversity and invest in the right projects. If you would like to exchange ideas — get in touch.
Charlotte Noltenius is the founder of 30 by 30, a nature advisory based in Bremen, Germany. She has nearly ten years of experience in sustainability consulting and transformation.