The Sustainable Markets Initiative and AECOM have launched a “groundbreaking” AI tool designed to protect nature during infrastructure projects
The SMI Nature Risk Tool can analyze any piece of land globally to provide detailed insights into habitats and biomes to help planners and policymakers to create sustainable infrastructure.
It also identifies protected species early in the site selection phase, allowing for protective measures to be integrated into development plans.
The tool has been successfully trialled by organisations including the World Bank, BP, KPMG, WWF, Barclays, HSBC and the Blue Dot Network.
Infrastructure development set to surge
With infrastructure development set to surge, driven by population and economic growth, the Nature Risk Tool will combat a reality that infrastructure development often leads to habitat loss, biodiversity decline, pollution and increased greenhouse gas emissions.
Over the past 50 years, wildlife populations have decreased by an average of 60%, with infrastructure development being a significant factor.
Powered by AECOM and using datasets from the Taskforce for Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), the SMI Nature Risk Tool enables infrastructure investors and promoters to analyse any piece of land globally (at a scale of metres), providing expert-reviewed descriptions of the location’s habitat and biomes early in the site selection process.
The Nature Risk Tool then evaluates a project’s impact on the environment and suggests mitigation strategies, offering potential solutions or environmental protection measures.
This information can be used to inform planner and policymaker decisions on creating infrastructure that promotes sustainable development and protects the natural environment.
The tool also aligns with the TNFD framework, enabling users to utilise the data for the TNFD LEAP process.
For example, if a protected species is found by the tool on the proposed site, early identification during the site selection phase allows for either ruling out that site or integrating protective measures into the development process to ensure the species’ continued protection. The tool also aligns with the TNDF framework, enabling users to utilise the data for the TNFD LEAP process.
A new standard for nature and biodiversity in infrastructure projects
Jennifer Jordan Saifi, CEO, Sustainable Markets Initiative, said: “Nature is the engine of our economy, which is why it lies at the heart of our mandate, the Terra Carta. It is central to providing us with solutions for a sustainable future.
“Partnering with AECOM, we have been able to demonstrate the significant impact that infrastructure development can have on global biodiversity.
“This is why I am proud to be launching the SMI Nature Risk Tool, something we hope will have many use cases and that will act as a powerful resource for developers and policymakers worldwide as we work collectively to protect and restore harmony with nature.”
Troy Rudd, chief executive officer and head of the Measurement & Transparency Task Force, AECOM, added: “We are incredibly excited about this partnership with the Sustainable Market Initiative. By combining our expertise in infrastructure consulting with SMI’s commitment to sustainability, we are setting a new standard for how projects can be planned and executed with nature and biodiversity at the forefront.
“This collaboration not only enhances our ability to deliver innovative solutions but also underscores our shared vision for a more sustainable and resilient future.”
