ISEP report backed by Jacobs calls for embedding nature into national infrastructure and economic planning
London | March 2026-Natural capital — including forests, rivers, soils and wetlands — should be formally recognised as critical national infrastructure in the United Kingdom, according to a new policy paper from the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (ISEP), supported by Jacobs.
The report argues that nature underpins every major infrastructure system — from transport and energy to water and digital networks — yet remains largely excluded from formal economic and infrastructure planning frameworks.
Nature as an Economic Asset
The policy paper highlights the significant economic value of the UK’s ecosystem services. The Office for National Statistics estimates the value of UK natural capital at approximately £1.8 trillion, equivalent to around 72% of national GDP.
At the same time, the Green Finance Institute warns that environmental degradation could reduce UK GDP by 6–12% by the 2030s, exceeding the economic losses experienced during the 2008 financial crisis.
Meanwhile, Natural England has cautioned that continued environmental decline threatens food security, clean energy generation and resilience against climate shocks.
The report contends that failing to account for these risks in economic planning exposes the UK to systemic vulnerabilities, including water scarcity, soil depletion, flood damage and supply chain disruption.
Six Policy Actions Proposed
The ISEP paper sets out six recommendations to embed natural capital into infrastructure and economic policy:
- Formal recognition of natural capital as critical national infrastructure.
- Creation of a Strategic Nature Network (SNN) as a Government Major and Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project.
- Integration of the SNN into National Policy Statements and spatial planning frameworks.
- Mandatory nature-related financial disclosures for critical sectors and public bodies.
- Establishment of a Natural Infrastructure Investment Fund to support early-stage nature recovery projects.
- Development of training and guidance to mainstream natural capital approaches across public and private decision-making.
These measures aim to shift the narrative from viewing nature as a constraint on development to recognising it as a foundational economic asset.
Economic Returns from Nature-Based Solutions
The paper also emphasises the financial case for investing in nature-based solutions. Evidence suggests that every £1 invested in such projects can generate up to £3 in economic and social returns, including job creation, public health benefits and biodiversity enhancement.
Jacobs highlighted its ongoing work with clients to integrate natural capital into infrastructure planning — through initiatives such as coastal restoration, catchment management and urban blue-green networks — combining asset management and environmental valuation methodologies to support balanced investment decisions.
Aligning Growth and Sustainability
Sarah Mukherjee, Chief Executive Officer of ISEP, described the paper as presenting “a positive vision and practical steps for UK government policy,” noting that its recommendations align economic growth with sustainability objectives.
The report positions natural capital not as a peripheral environmental issue but as an essential component of national resilience and long-term economic stability.
A Strategic Reframing
As the UK advances infrastructure investment and growth strategies, the report argues that policy frameworks must reflect the reality that natural systems underpin economic performance.
Recognising natural capital as critical infrastructure, it concludes, is not only an environmental imperative but a strategic economic decision essential to futureproofing the national economy.
