Sustainability and building compliance expert. Specialising in low energy design, SAP, SBEM, BREEAM, and air testing for the construction industry,
Andrew Sadler
An exciting new AI tool has been developed to minimise environmental risks to infrastructure projects. We explore the Nature Risk Tool in our latest blog.
The Sustainable Markets Initiative has launched an exciting new AI-powered Nature Risk Tool to tackle one of the most pressing challenges in infrastructure development: balancing growth with environmental protection.
Developed by AECOM in partnership with the Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI), the tool provides decision-makers with actionable insights to assess and mitigate risks to biodiversity before any development begins.
With global infrastructure projected to need $94 trillion worth of investments by 2040 to drive decarbonisation, protecting natural habitats is more critical than ever to support this global energy transition. Here we dig deeper into this revolutionary new AI tool and what it means for the construction industry.
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How does the Nature Risk Tool work?
The Nature Risk Tool leverages a comprehensive dataset to identify potential environmental impacts at the earliest stages of project planning, helping developers make nature-positive decisions. By integrating academic and environmental research, the tool evaluates risks such as pollution, biodiversity loss, and potential geological hazards across 16 ecological regions worldwide.
At its core, the Nature Risk Tool harnesses the ability to simplify complex data from diverse sources. It can assess any piece of land based on its specific climate, vegetation, and wildlife characteristics. This allows planners to pinpoint risks like endangered species or fragile ecosystems early in the site selection phase, ensuring that protective measures can be incorporated into project designs.
In practical terms, this means identifying a protected species on a proposed development site which could result in a change of location or the introduction of safeguards, minimising harm to nature.
What are the benefits of early risk detection?
One of the tool’s key advantages is its ability to accelerate the typically lengthy environmental risk assessment process. What once took weeks can now be achieved in hours, providing developers with a clearer understanding of a project’s ecological footprint from the start.
By utilising this technology at the initial stages of development, companies can avoid costly delays, reputational damage, and legal challenges. Additionally, the tool aligns with global environmental frameworks like the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), facilitating transparency and regulatory compliance; gold stars all around!
What does the Nature Risk Tool mean for the green agenda?
The launch of the Nature Risk Tool marks a significant step forward in sustainable infrastructure development. As Jennifer Jordan Saifi, CEO of SMI, emphasised, nature is central to economic growth and must be safeguarded in the race to build the future. By partnering with AECOM, SMI is setting a new standard for infrastructure projects that prioritize environmental resilience.
This innovative AI-driven approach empowers planners, policymakers, and investors to protect nature while fostering economic development, ultimately paving the way for a future where progress and preservation go hand in hand.
As the tool enters its pilot phase, major companies like Shell, BP, and WWF are already exploring its potential to reshape their infrastructure planning. If widely adopted, the Nature Risk Tool could help reduce biodiversity loss and environmental degradation on a global scale, ensuring that future projects harmonize with nature, not against it.
We believe that any innovations that promote sustainable construction are incredibly positive. Here at Buildpass, we are excited by the potential of the Nature Risk Tool and look forward to seeing it rolled out far beyond the pilot stage.
If you too are on your green construction journey, we would love to join you. We’re the experts when it comes to taking the guesswork out of environmentally friendly buildings and design. Drop us a line to arrange a free consultation or peruse our services page.
