The University of Sydney has become the first university in the world to publish a nature-related financial disclosure aligned with the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), setting a new global benchmark for how听the听higher education听sector听can understand and act on its relationship with the natural world.
The voluntary disclosure, released as part of the听University鈥檚 2024 Sustainability Annual Report, shows how the TNFD framework can be effectively applied to a large and complex听organisation. It maps听the University鈥檚听dependencies and听impacts听on nature across more than 12,000 hectares of campuses,听farms听and field stations,听demonstrating听how nature can be embedded in decision-making, investment听planning听and long-term strategy.
The听University鈥檚 Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost, Professor Annamarie听Jagose,听said the milestone reflected听the institution鈥檚听long-standing leadership in environmental research and education.听
鈥淭hrough research and education, we听have听a proud history of听building knowledge that helps protect and restore the environments we all rely on. This disclosure strengthens that commitment by showing听鈥撎齮ransparently and proactively听鈥撎齢ow nature underpins our teaching,听research听and operations. By adopting this听framework early,听we鈥檙e听helping shape what responsible, nature-positive leadership looks like for universities globally.鈥澨
Drawing on听expertise听from across the University, including researchers in biodiversity, water, soil science, ecology and data analytics, the assessment brings together research capability and teaching excellence in climate and nature. Students also contributed through site-based analysis, reinforcing听the University鈥檚听role in preparing the next generation of environmental leaders.
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We鈥檙e helping shape what responsible, nature-positive leadership looks like for universities globally.
Professor Annamarie Jagose
Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost
A practical blueprint for the sector
The University鈥檚听Director of Sustainability Gillian Graham-Crowe said the disclosure provided听a practical blueprint for the sector.
鈥淎s centres of research, education and public leadership, universities are pivotal in shaping how society responds to environmental challenges. This work shows that nature considerations can and should听integrate听with financial planning, infrastructure decisions, operational听risk听and long-term strategy. Our disclosure is clear and actionable, helping our institution better understand the risks and opportunities that come with protecting and restoring nature, while also encouraging others to follow suit.鈥
The disclosure highlights opportunities for nature-positive action across the University鈥檚 landholdings, including restoration, Indigenous land management practices, ecological fire听management听and improved integration of environmental considerations into future planning.听
鈥淲e want to ensure that our risk assessments value and protect nature consistent with the way that we assess financial or operational risk,鈥澨齈rofessor听Jagose听said. 鈥淏y stepping forward early, we aim to support a global shift towards more resilient, nature-aware institutions.鈥
The findings will guide the University鈥檚 next phase of work to strengthen data, set nature-related听targets听and further integrate environmental considerations across campus planning, research,听operations听and partnerships.
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