Investing in natural infrastructure
Earth Security’s projects identify opportunities to invest in natural capital projects that act as cost-effective infrastructure. We work with companies, financial institutions and governments to create opportunities to invest in natural capital as a way to manage the growing risks of climate change and resource insecurity.
Global infrastructure investments in sectors like power, transport, and water are expected to grow from $2.5 trillion to $3.3 trillion by 2030, vastly increasing the energy, materials and environmental footprints of projects and companies. Climate change poses a significant threat to infrastructure in both developed and developing countries. In the United States alone, the unmet climate resilient infrastructure needs are estimated to reach $10 trillion by 2050.
Natural ecosystems such as forests, watersheds, coral reefs and mangroves, are increasingly recognised as a form of natural infrastructure, as their services like coastal protection or water resilience, can deliver significant value to companies and society.
Current Project
An investment pipeline for natural infrastructure in Colombia
Agriculture
Green Infrastructure
Eco Tourism
Agroforestry
Blue carbon
In 2022, our work on ‘Cloud Forest Assets’ outlined the critical role that mountain forest ecosystems play as ‘water towers,’ providing water services to communities and cities below. Globally, approximately one in three cities rely on protected forest areas to supply them with water.
These fragile ecosystems provide a nature-based solution that can increase water availability downstream by 20%–60%, not only regulating the supply of the water cycle, but actively increasing the amount of water available in watersheds. Their ecosystem services play a vital – if underappreciated – role in addressing climate change.
In Colombia, we have partnered with the Bogotá Water Fund (BWF) to develop a collaborative investment model to preserve the mountain forest ecosystems that provide freshwater to the city of Bogotá. These ecosystems, also known as páramos, are vital for the people of Bogota.
Over 90% of the city’s water supply depends on these forests, yet they face increasing pressure due human impacts and agricultural expansion. Through this project, we are co-creating an investment thesis and a pipeline of natural infrastructure projects that are aligned with climate resilience principles, and which support the long-term protection and stewardship of the ecological functions of mountain forests.
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If you’re an investor looking for opportunities, or a project looking for funding, get in touch to discuss how we could work together.