Anyone within or outside accountancy who wants to understand more about the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) can take advantage of a special new course.

Launched on 18 February, the Learning Lab is a platform for self-guided education, helping users deepen their understanding of the TNFD’s recommendations and guidance on nature-related issues.

Free to access, the Lab is designed for professionals at all levels, from those in the earliest stages of their career to advanced practitioners who are looking to strengthen their knowledge of nature-related topics and how to apply the TNFD’s framework.

Featuring videos, case studies, webinars and interactive content, the Lab covers every aspect of the TNFD’s guidance across nine modules: foundations; corporate reporting; assessing nature-related issues; metrics for assessment and reporting; target setting and transition planning; scenario thinking and analysis; stakeholder engagement; creating nature-positive outcomes; and shifting the flow of global capital.

Users can create an online profile, enabling them to track their progress through the modules. According to a TNFD statement, new materials will be added to the platform in the coming months.

Significant demand

In its early modules, the Lab provides insights on the concepts and science that underpin the TNFD framework. The programme then develops a more practical focus, outlining real-world examples of where organisations began with their nature-related assessments and reporting.

Later modules contain how-to materials on the TNFD’s LEAP assessment approach – requiring organisations to locate their interface with nature, evaluate their dependencies and impacts, assess their nature-related risks and opportunities, and prepare to respond to those factors and report on material, nature-related issues.

Alongside the Learning Lab is the Trainer Portal, a range of materials for use by training and education service providers.

TNFD, which launched its recommendations in September 2023, points out that its related guidance documents have been downloaded more than 300,000 times in the past year. On 23 January, TNFD published a further set of guidance papers for four specific business sectors – namely apparel, textiles and footwear; beverages; construction materials; and engineering, construction and real estate.

Concrete action

TNFD Executive Director Tony Goldner says: “Across sectors and geographies, business and finance leaders increasingly realise that the resilience of their business and investment returns depends, in part, on the resilience of nature.” With that in mind, he hailed the launch of the Lab as further evidence of TNFD’s “commitment to equipping market participants with accessible, practical guidance as they look to build the confidence and capacity for their organisation to take concrete action”.

Former Taskforce member Sébastien Soleille, Director of Sustainable Finance at the French Banking Association, says that building the recommendations was just one step towards TNFD’s wider goal of supporting business and finance leaders to integrate nature into their decision-making. “It’s now necessary to ensure the market has the confidence and skills to assess, report and act on nature-related issues,” Soleille adds. “Education and training play a critical role in enabling the market to act, by upskilling individuals and organisations of any sector, region or maturity.”

Simon Thompson, Managing Director at the Global Capacity Building Coalition, says: “Building awareness, enhancing knowledge and skills and creating an expert and engaged community of educators and practitioners are all key elements of successful capacity building… I strongly encourage all with an interest in this area to consider adopting the new tools and to share them as widely as possible.”