News in the spotlight: Earth Blox Raises GBP 6 Million to Expand Climate and Nature Risk Analytics
Earth Blox said it has raised GBP 6 million to expand its geospatial analytics platform, which helps businesses and banks assess climate and nature-related risks and opportunities. The company said the funding will support its mission to help financial institutions and corporates identify assets exposed to environmental risks, measure transition impacts, and direct finance toward nature-positive outcomes.
Products and Services
BNP Paribas AM Invests in FarmCarbon to Support Agricultural Decarbonization
BNP Paribas Asset Management has invested in FarmCarbon, a new vehicle backed by Sistema.bio that aims to speed up decarbonization in agriculture. The platform is designed to support farmers in reducing emissions through practical, scalable solutions linked to clean technology and more efficient farming practices. According to the announcement, the investment reflects growing interest in climate-focused private market strategies that can combine environmental impact with commercial returns. FarmCarbon will focus on helping reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, an area seen as important because farming is both highly exposed to climate change and a significant source of emissions. The deal also highlights the role of partnerships between asset managers and agritech companies in financing the transition to lower-carbon food systems.
Rainforest Builder Secures Series A to Scale West Africa Restoration
Rainforest Builder, a tropical forest restoration company operating in West Africa, closed a Series A funding round on March 12, 2026, led by BNP Paribas Asset Management Alts (BNPP AM Alts), with existing investors participating. The investment includes dedicated project financing for Project Colobus, a 24,000-hectare restoration initiative in Ghana’s Oti Region, targeting the Asuokoko and Chai River Forest Reserves. It aims to expand to 70,000 hectares across Oti and Volta regions, marking one of the largest private investments in a single forest restoration project globally. Proceeds scale science-led restoration, community programs, and the Chameleon data platform, which analyzes operational and ecological data for performance tracking and impact visibility. Project Colobus expects to generate over seven million high-quality carbon removal credits under Verra’s VM0047 methodology and CCB standard. Co-CEO Ed Stephenson hailed BNPP AM Alts’ commitment as pivotal for scaling impact.
Triodos Bank backs Scottish nature-recovery site with £3.3m loan
Triodos Bank has provided a GBP 3.3 million loan to support a family-run Scottish site focused on nature recovery and wider growth plans. The financing is intended to help the business expand its environmentally focused operations while advancing habitat restoration and long-term land stewardship. The loan reflects Triodos Bank’s continued emphasis on backing projects that combine commercial viability with measurable environmental benefits. The site’s plans are centered on improving biodiversity, strengthening resilience in the local landscape, and supporting a model of farming or land use that works alongside nature rather than against it. By extending the funding, Triodos aims to enable the family business to progress its development strategy while contributing to Scotland’s broader nature-recovery agenda. Triodos Bank, across its Group structure, has committed to financing EUR 500m to nature-based solutions and nature recovery by 2030.
ERM, Natcap team up on science-based nature and water solutions
ERM, the specialist sustainability consultancy, has partnered with nature intelligence provider Natcap to help companies turn nature and water assessments into concrete risk and investment decisions across operations and supply chains. The partnership integrates Natcap’s peer-reviewed ecosystem service models and high-resolution, location-specific data with ERM’s strategy, transformation, implementation and disclosure capabilities. This gives clients scalable portfolio- and site-level insights for biodiversity management, water stewardship, supply chain engagement and landscape resilience planning. Solutions are designed to meet rising regulatory and investor expectations, aligning with frameworks such as TNFD and CSRD by generating decision-ready, defensible science and measurable outcomes. ERM positions the offer as a way to move clients “from assessment to investment,” linking nature and water resilience directly to long-term corporate performance.
Regulations, Law and Frameworks
Norway’s Wealth Fund Urges Companies to Disclose and Manage Nature Risks
Norway’s sovereign wealth fund says portfolio companies should identify, assess, and manage nature-related risks and opportunities as part of sound long-term business practice. The expectation covers impacts on biodiversity, ecosystems, land, water, and other natural assets that can affect company operations, supply chains, and financial performance. Companies are encouraged to integrate nature considerations into governance, strategy, risk management, targets, and reporting, and to disclose how dependencies and impacts are handled. The fund also points investors and companies toward recognized frameworks and emerging disclosure standards to improve consistency and comparability. By setting this expectation, the fund signals that nature loss is not only an environmental issue but also a material financial risk that can influence valuation and resilience. The approach is aligned with broader climate and sustainability work, and it reflects the fund’s long-term ownership strategy of encouraging transparency, better decision-making, and stronger management of systemic environmental risks.
Swiss banks on track with portfolio management self-regulation
Swiss banks say they are on schedule to implement the Swiss Bankers Association’s self-regulation for portfolio management, which aims to strengthen sustainable finance practices and improve transparency for clients. The measures set minimum standards for financial institutions that offer portfolio management, including clearer consideration of sustainability preferences and more consistent handling of sustainability-related information. According to the association, the industry has made solid progress in preparing internal processes, staff training and product documentation ahead of the rules taking effect. The self-regulation is designed to support the transition toward more credible sustainable investment services without waiting for new legislation. The announcement also reflects ongoing pressure on the financial sector to ensure that sustainability claims are better substantiated and that clients receive more reliable guidance when making investment decisions.
ESG Data and Analytics
Earth Blox Raises GBP 6 Million to Expand Climate and Nature Risk Analytics
Earth Blox, an Edinburgh-based environmental intelligence firm, secured GBP 6 million in growth funding on March 18, 2026, led by PXN Ventures, with support from Scottish Enterprise, follow-on investment from Archangels, and European Space Agency funding. The capital will expand the team, accelerate product development, and enhance the platform’s AI capabilities, which integrate satellite imagery, environmental data, and client portfolios to quantify nature and climate risks for banks, investors, and corporates. Customers—global banks, consumer brands, energy firms, and agribusinesses—use it for portfolio-level assessments linking biodiversity loss and climate hazards to financial exposure. A recent project with Lloyds Banking Group analyzed 5.1 million hectares of UK farmland, pinpointing 1.2 million hectares for resilience interventions. More generally, the platform supports capital allocation, risk management, and TNFD/CSRD compliance.