Delegates at COP15 finance day have been urged to adopt sustainable accounting to report on their environmental impact by adding a line for nature in the current accounting and audit system.

This would allow nature, to be a visible key stakeholder and to have a voice and value. This approach would allow greater focus and capital to be given to nature – and human activity would move decisively and permanently to net positive, according to Paolo Quattrone, professor of accounting, governance and society at the Alliance Manchester Business School, and Ariela Caglio, associate professor of performance and sustainability measurement at Bocconi University, Milan. 

Central banks and regulators could legislate to make this compulsory - but in the meantime, corporations need to start adding nature in their financial reports voluntarily, the professors argue.