The West Yorkshire Pension Fund (WYPF) has secured a 25% equity investment in Rebalance Earth, an organization dedicated to water-related ecological restoration.
Operating under the "nature as a service" model, Rebalance Earth evaluates water-related risks, identifies flood vulnerabilities, and explores opportunities for habitat restoration. This venture capital investment is reported to be one of the most substantial seed investments in the UK in recent years, amounting to millions of pounds.
In addition to this investment, Rebalance Earth has formed a partnership with Plymouth City Council, which will oversee flood risk management for the River Plym. The collaboration with Ocean City Nature, a habitat bank, will facilitate the design and funding of various nature restoration initiatives. These habitat banks play a crucial role in preserving natural environments and ensuring a net gain in biodiversity.
Councillor Tom Briars-Delve, who serves as the cabinet member for Environment and Climate Change, expressed enthusiasm for this pioneering initiative in Plymouth. He stated, "We are proud to pilot Rebalance Earth’s innovative fund here. Our objective has always been to attract external investment for Ocean City Nature, perfectly aligning with our strategic vision of enhancing climate resilience and improving the quality of life for our residents through the management of our valuable green and blue spaces."
He added, "By incorporating natural systems into our city’s infrastructure planning, we are setting a benchmark for how cities can utilize nature-based solutions to promote sustainable economic growth, improve public health, and establish flourishing environments for future generations."
Robert Gardner, the CEO and co-founder of Rebalance Earth, remarked, "Plymouth City Council is leading by example, showing how we can collaborate to restore nature and confront climate change directly. Nature is our strongest ally, and we must reconstruct it as a vital infrastructure that protects our cities, communities, and businesses against the escalating threats of floods, droughts, and environmental decline."
He continued, "By acknowledging nature as critical business infrastructure, we are transforming the approach to view natural systems as investable assets that safeguard our environment while yielding lasting economic advantages. Plymouth is poised to become a scalable model that can be replicated throughout the UK."
Founded in 2020, Rebalance Earth aims to promote environmental restoration by channeling investment into natural resources. The company focuses on enhancing UK climate infrastructure and building resilience in biodiversity. With a goal of unlocking £10 billion from asset owners for investment in nature infrastructure, Rebalance Earth is committed to addressing the nature crisis in the UK.
Robert Gardner will be a guest speaker at Sustainable Finance Live 2024, scheduled for October 8 at Events@No6 in London, where he will deliver a keynote address about the journey of Natural Capital from field to trade.
For more details about the agenda and to register for Sustainable Finance Live 2024, please visit this link.