Nature as Director Initiative is a pioneering initiative aimed at embedding accountability to nature within the legal and corporate governance structure and the decision making process of English incorporated companies.

We are excited to have contributed to developing the model form documents and the implementation matrix, which serves as a high-level roadmap for companies looking to embrace the Nature Director Initiative. These resources provide a blueprint for integrating nature as a key stakeholder in corporate decision making process. This Nature as Director Implementation Matrix sets out the essential legal and corporate governance elements necessary for appointing and upholding the responsibilities of Nature Director of English incorporated companies.

Recognising that each company is its sustainability journey, we have designed a flexible "traffic light approach," offering three options—"integral," "mature," and "learning"—tailored to varying levels of commitment to the Nature Director Initiative. Each option encompasses a range of suggested onboarding documents, legal considerations, and corporate governance practices, ensuring adaptability to diverse organizational needs.

Each option encompasses critical aspects of comprehensive implementation of the Initiative for driving meaningful changes, ranging from:

- Entrenchment of the initiative;

- Appointment and removal of Nature Director;

- Responsibilities at board meetings and board proceedings; and

- Internal reporting and accountability of the initiative.

Kate Chan, Associate at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP