Catch up on nature policy news from last month

In a nutshell:

The High Seas Treaty enters into force, unlocking new protected areas and helping meet Target 3 of the Global Biodiversity Framework.
Davos 2026: Amid geopolitical tensions at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, Business for Nature calls for the urgent reform of governments’ financial incentives to align market signals with a nature-positive economy.
Brazil’s Soy moratorium dealt a major blow: Major traders exit the pact following the removal of tax incentives, threatening two decades of progress in the Amazon.
Japan begins deep-sea mining trials: Tests begin near Minamitori Island despite scientific warnings, business opposition and significant financial risks to the global economy.
Chile pioneers biodiversity-linked finance: The country launches the first-ever sovereign biodiversity-linked bond, directly connecting national debt to nature-positive outcomes.
Plus: Business for Nature is hiring a social media freelancer to support our brilliant communications team.

High Seas Treaty enters into force

The High Seas Treaty officially entered into force in mid-January, marking a major milestone for ocean governance after 20 years of negotiations. So far, 84 countries have ratified it, and signatories plan to hold the first meeting (COP) within the next year.

The high seas make up nearly half of the Earth’s surface and are crucial for activities like shipping, fishing, resource exploration and energy projects. Until now, these activities have largely occurred without thorough oversight. With the treaty in effect, they will be subjected to greater oversight and monitoring.

Countries will need to conduct detailed environmental impact assessments and make the data publicly available.

For businesses, this means higher expectations to report on fishing, shipping, and energy infrastructure in the high seas, as national-level regulatory requirements will increase.

Importantly, the treaty also allows countries to create the first international networks of protected areas in the high seas – a first under international law and a key step toward meeting Target 3 of the Global Biodiversity Framework to Conserve 30% of Land, Waters and Seas by 2030.

Davos 2026: Geopolitical tensions dominate, but nature remains on the agenda

Geopolitical tensions and societal fragmentation dominated the headlines at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, echoing the Global Risks Report 2026's findings. Over 60 heads of state and 800 CEOs gathered under the theme “A Spirit of Dialogue,” with trade, energy security, and artificial intelligence prominently on the agenda.

Despite these tensions, nature and climate were headline issues in several key discussions away from the mainstage. Sessions throughout the week underscored the need to accelerate the green energy transition, scale circular economy solutions and rethink incentives.

An event co-hosted by Business for Nature and the B Team discussed how to execute The Trillion Dollar Pivot - a rewrite of the government-led fiscal and financial rules that can unlock the next wave of nature-positive investment and innovation. Indeed, environmentally harmful subsidies, estimated at USD 2.6 trillion annually, continue to distort markets and undermine biodiversity goals. As long as public finance rewards environmental harm, nature-positive action will remain the exception, not the norm.

Ahead of COP17 in Armenia this October, governments must prioritize reforming incentives, as one of the most effective tools for realigning market incentives and mobilizing capital toward regeneration and innovation.

Brazil’s Amazon soy moratorium dealt a major blow

Several major soy trading companies, including Cargill and Bunge through the industry group Abiove, have exited Brazil’s long-standing Amazon So y Moratorium. This follows a new law that eliminated the tax benefits that previously encouraged companies to participate. The law took effect on 1 January 2026, in the state of Mato Grosso.

For nearly two decades, the moratorium has been a cornerstone of efforts to reduce soy-driven deforestation in the Amazon. Participating companies agreed not to purchase soy from land deforested after 2008 in exchange for some tax benefits. Implementing positive incentives for traders helped level the playing field and demonstrated that agricultural expansion and forest protection could coexist.

Political opposition has intensified over the past year, with producer groups arguing the pact is illegal and discriminatory. Cutting these incentives has affected the financial case for participation and overall threatens the moratorium’s progress and existence.

As companies are forced to reassess their sourcing strategies, they will face increased challenges: weaker deforestation safeguards, increased reputational and regulatory risks, and heightened pressure to invest in independent monitoring and traceability systems, especially when sourcing from high-risk regions.

Japan begins deep-sea mining tests

Japan officially launched deep-sea mining trials near Minamitori Island, following through on its 2025 announcements. These tests are designed to assess whether it’s feasible to extract rare earth elements, which are crucial for technologies like electric vehicles, wind turbines, LED lighting and MRI scanners.

This move is part of Japan’s broader effort to cut down on imports, particularly from China, and if the initial results are promising, a larger trial is planned for 2027.

This is happening despite growing concerns and warnings from scientists and civil society. The environmental, social and economic impacts of deep-sea mining are not fully understood, and there’s a real risk of causing irreversible harm to fragile marine ecosystems.

A growing number of companies are joining this call for caution, suggesting that circular-economy strategies and mineral recycling offer safer, more sustainable alternatives. Financial risk assessments suggest that deep-sea mining could threaten between USD 30 billion and USD 132 billion in value, posing a risk to export revenues in countries that depend heavily on mineral exports.

Chile pioneers nature finance with sovereign biodiversity-linked bond

Chile launched its first biodiversity-linked sovereign bond. This €1.5 billion, 10-year Sustainability-Linked Bond connects borrowing costs to progress on biodiversity goals, such as expanding and effectively managing protected areas.

This unique bond adjusts interest rates based on Chile’s progress toward its Global Biodiversity Framework commitments. This broadens the scope of sovereign sustainable finance beyond climate metrics alone.

This innovative move helps address gaps in biodiversity finance and sends a clear message about rising expectations for accountability in protecting nature. Over time, this could also pressure Chilean companies to improve transparency and include biodiversity performance in their financial risk assessments.

Learn more about Business for Nature’s work in Chile and beyond.

Business for Nature is hiring a social media freelancer

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The social media & content specialist will work with the communications team to create high-impact visual content that drives credible business action and policy ambition to achieve a nature-positive economy for all. Learn more

Caught up on last month? Go back to the November Bulletin to catch up on previous nature policy stories from around the world.

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Nature Policy Bulletin - February 2025