Newcastle University secures membership in nature taskforce

Following two years of dedicated effort, Dr Xiang, a Senior Lecturer in Accounting and Finance at Newcastle University Business School, successfully led the University’s application in the TNFD forum.

Launched in June 2021, TNFD are determined to remind companies and investors that nature forms the foundation of the world's economy. Their recommendations are designed to help organisations to report and act on evolving nature-related issues with the goal to supporting a shift in global financial flows away from nature-negative outcomes and toward nature-positive ones. With over 1,600 global members including corporates, financial institutions and inter-governmental organisations, their forum is a global multi-disciplinary consultative group aligned with this mission.

Becoming part of the TNFD Forum offers a remarkable opportunity to enhance research and strengthen the Business School’s global leadership in sustainability and nature-related risk management. TNFD Forum is a global multi-disciplinary consultative group of institutions who support Taskforce and provide contributions. Dr Xiang now serves as the Principal Representative for the University in this forum.

A transparent glass globe resting on lush green grass, symbolizing global environmental sustainability and nature conservation.

Dr Xiang has also previously contributed to the development of the TNFD framework by submitting a public comment letter. This letter was published by TNFD alongside those from world-renowned organisations, such as the UN Environment Programme, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Dr Xiang said, “Personally, this achievement reflects my dedication to fostering global collaboration and engagement in addressing the critical challenges of sustainability and nature-related financial risks. Contributing a public comment letter during the framework's development underscored our active engagement and thought leadership in this space.

"Securing the university’s membership in the TNFD Forum marks a significant milestone for the Business School and the wider university. The process involved two years of focused effort, including engaging with stakeholders, building institutional support, and demonstrating our commitment to advancing sustainability.

"As a member of the TNFD Forum, we aim to participate in pivotal discussions and projects that refine the framework and explore its implementation in diverse organisational contexts. Our contributions will focus on enhancing disclosure practices, aligning financial strategies with nature-positive outcomes, and integrating cutting-edge research into practical applications.

“Looking ahead, Newcastle University’s membership in the TNFD Forum opens doors to numerous possibilities. We aim to leverage this platform to advance our research on nature-related financial disclosures, influence global policy discussions, and support organisations in managing nature-related risks.

"Our next steps include initiating collaborative projects with forum members, hosting workshops to bridge academic insights and industry practices, and embedding the TNFD framework into the university’s operations and our teaching and research programmes. Ultimately, we aspire to position the University as a global leader in sustainability and drive meaningful change that aligns financial flows and disclosures with nature-positive outcomes.”