Investing in Nature for the Future: The Business Case for Forests
7 Takeaways from London Climate Action Week
At London Climate Action week Salesforce, the LEAF Coalition, Emergent, 1t.org, Symbiosis and the U.K. Government convened public, private, and grassroots leaders to share the corporate case that investing in forests is not only a climate imperative - it’s smart business. Held atop the Salesforce Tower the session brought together global voices ahead of COP30 in the Amazon to explore the challenges and opportunities of investing finance in forests for climate, nature and people.
Catch up on seven key takeaways from the session below:
Key Takeouts
1. Forests Are a Strategic Business Asset
From water security and supply chain resilience to regulatory readiness and market access, forest protection is no longer a philanthropic add-on - it’s a core business need. Bayer’s EVP of Sustainability, Matthias Berninger, made a compelling case for why forest action aligns with climate targets and corporate interests.
“If you're already investing in forests, great. If you're forest-curious, that’s also great - let’s turn that into action.”
- Tim Christophersen, Salesforce
2. Integrity and Inclusion Are Non-Negotiable
High-integrity climate action means ensuring environmental credibility, co-design, delivery and benefits sharing. Panelists repeatedly stressed that forest finance must be rooted in science, transparency, and equity.
“High-integrity isn’t just about methodologies. It’s about transformation.”
- Julia Strong, Symbiosis
Vietnam also shared how Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IP&LCs) are not only included in planning, but also in dissemination of the benefits.
3. Jurisdictional REDD+ Offers Scale and Safeguards
Governments at national and state levels are implementing jurisdictional REDD+ programs that align with public policy and legal frameworks—bringing scale, permanence, and social safeguards that historically, have been hard to achieve through the project-based approach alone.
“We created LEAF to lock in integrity from the start-through public-private partnerships, transparent transactions, and robust safeguards.”
- Eron Bloomgarden, Emergent
4. Coalitions Help Companies Act with Confidence
Corporates need clear, low-risk pathways to invest in forests without navigating complexity alone. Initiatives like LEAF, Symbiosis and 1t.org provide due diligence support, simplify transactions, and offer peer learning.
“Lean on the 100+ companies already in these coalitions. Start small - but start now.”
- Tim Christophersen, Salesforce
5. Technology Can Unlock Scale and Transparency
AI and digital tools are already transforming how companies and governments monitor forests, measure impact, and manage transactions. Salesforce showcased examples from wildfire detection to multilingual farmer outreach in India.
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6. The Market Must Be Simpler - But No Less Rigorous
For both investors and communities, the complexity of carbon markets can be a barrier. Panelists called for harmonised standards and shared due diligence processes that reduce duplication and barriers to entry without sacrificing scientific rigor.
7. We Must Tell the Stories That Matter
We need a shared narrative that resonates beyond technical stakeholders - one that connects to broader environmental, social, and economic transformation and moves away from abstract measurements and acronyms - into stories that invite public understanding, engagement, and support.
“We need a simpler message for the broader public—something that inspires, not just explains. Let’s paint a picture of what a greener future looks like.”
— Julia Strong, Symbiosis
A Final Word from the UK Government
The session concluded with a powerful rallying call to action from U.K. Minister for Climate, Kerry McCarthy MP who closed the session, inviting corporates to take the first step by signing up to coalitions.
