Dr. Gregg Brill explains how the Accounting for Nature Program helps businesses and governments identify and quantify the benefits of NBS.

Nature-based solutions are essential infrastructure investments with the potential to produce broad benefits. Many businesses and governments struggle to identify and implement nature-based solutions due to uncertainty in assessing and measuring their benefits and value. The Pacific Institute’s Accounting for Nature Program offers clarity by equipping businesses and governments with the practical guidance and tools they need to invest in and reap the benefits of nature-based solutions. In this Q&A, we speak with program director Gregg Brill about why this work matters now, how it helps overcome key barriers, and how it turns nature-based solutions from novel to the new normal—unlocking funding, incentivizing action, and ensuring that nature is seen not as an externality, but as a social, economic, and environmental necessity. 

1) How does the Accounting for Nature Program help businesses and governments quantify the benefits of investing in nature-based solutions (NBS)? 

The Accounting for Nature Program at the Pacific Institute is a game-changer because it helps build the business case for nature-based solutions and biodiversity —something businesses and governments can measure, track, and invest in with confidence. Traditional economic models often fail to capture the immense value of healthy ecosystems, but this program provides practical and pragmatic guidance and tools needed to identify, account for, and value the benefits of investing in nature-based solutions.  By doing so, it helps build or bolster knowledge, unlocks funding, incentivizes action, and ensures that nature is seen not as an externality, but as an economic necessity to address many of our societal and environmental challenges. 

2) What are the biggest barriers preventing widespread adoption of NBS, and how does this program help overcome them? 

One of the biggest barriers is perception—nature-based solutions are often seen as ‘nice to have’ rather than essential infrastructure investments. Another challenge is the lack of standardized guidance, tools, and other resources. This makes it difficult for investors and policymakers to assess the efficacy and value of potential investments in nature. The Accounting for Nature Program directly tackles these obstacles by providing scientifically rigorous metrics and methodologies to identify the benefits that can accrue from nature-based solutions projects, creating transparency and trust. It also aligns with global reporting frameworks, making it easier for businesses to integrate nature-based solutions into their sustainability strategies. In short, it replaces uncertainty with clarity, taking nature-based solutions from novel to the new normal. 

3) Can you share a success story where an organization used the program’s tools to drive impactful NBS investments? 

One standout example is where several companies have leveraged some of the thought leadership from the Accounting for Nature program to identify and quantify the multiple benefits of their corporate water stewardship investments in restoration and replenishment. By applying the program’s methodologies, they were able to demonstrate not only significant water quantity benefits, but additional co-benefits for water quality, carbon sequestration potential, reduced flood risks for surrounding communities, and significant biodiversity benefits. This data-driven approach helped secure multi-stakeholder funding for future projects, proving that investing in nature can generate both ecological and economic returns. The result? A scalable model for water, climate, and biodiversity resilience that other industries are now looking to replicate. 

4) How can frontline communities benefit from the program, and how does it ensure equitable participation in NBS projects? 

Frontline communities—those most vulnerable to climate change and environmental degradation—stand to gain the most from nature-based solutions and biodiversity conservation. The Accounting for Nature Program ensures their participation isn’t just symbolic but foundational. By embedding local and Indigenous knowledge into guidance and methodologies and designing financial mechanisms that prioritize nature-based solutions projects led by communities, the Accounting for Nature Program empowers these communities to drive their own resilience strategies. Moreover, it creates pathways for equitable investment, ensuring that the benefits—whether in the form of improved water security, disaster risk reduction, or job creation—flow directly to those who need them most. 

5) How can companies and policymakers get involved with the program, and what resources are available to help them implement NBS effectively? 

Engagement starts with a mindset shift: recognizing that investing in nature isn’t philanthropy, it’s smart economics. The Accounting for Nature Program offers companies and policymakers access to robust assessment tools, standardized valuation metrics, and implementation frameworks that integrate seamlessly with existing corporate water stewardship and other sustainability and resilience strategies. Whether it’s through pilot projects, cross-sector partnerships, or policy alignment, there are multiple entry points for stakeholders. Additionally, the program provides practical guidance, case studies, benefit accounting tools, and policy recommendations to guide decision-making. The message is clear—nature is a trillion-dollar opportunity waiting to be unlocked, and this program provides the key.