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Feb 26, 2026
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When we think of critical national infrastructure, we tend to picture transport systems, power stations or built assets that support digital systems — the visible networks that keep our economy running. But there’s another group of assets, barely accounted for in our economic models, that underpins every one of them: nature.
Our forests, rivers, soils and wetlands — collectively known as natural capital — provide the essential ecosystem services that sustain our economy and our lives. They regulate our climate, filter our water, protect our coastlines and supply the raw materials that feed industries and communities. Yet despite this fundamental role, natural capital is still not formally recognized as critical national infrastructure in the U.K. and risks being seen as a “nice to have” for policy makers in hard economic times.
At Jacobs, we’re working with our clients to take a new approach. Our work makes the case for nature-based solutions and designing and building them on the ground — whether through coastal restoration, catchment management or urban blue-green networks. By combining natural capital and asset management approaches, we empower clients and governments to make better, more balanced investment decisions that account for environmental, social and economic value together.
A new policy paper from the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (ISEP), supported by Jacobs, makes the case for changing that. It draws on existing evidence to show that natural capital meets the formal definition for critical national infrastructure and calls for natural capital approaches to be embedded in the U.K.’s infrastructure and economic decision-making.
Nature’s value is key to protecting and unlocking growth
We often talk about nature in moral or ecological terms, or as a risk or constraint to development, but its economic importance has already been demonstrated. The Office for National Statistics values U.K. ecosystem services at around $2.42 trillion (£1.8 trillion) — equivalent to roughly 72% of the country’s GDP. The Green Finance Institute estimates that environmental degradation could reduce gross domestic product by 6–12% by the 2030s — a greater loss than the 2008 financial crisis.
This isn’t abstract economics. It’s about the cost of water scarcity, soil depletion, flood damage, disrupted supply chains and declining productivity. Natural England’s State of Natural Capital report warns that environmental decline threatens our ability to feed ourselves, generate clean energy and withstand climate and economic shocks.
At the same time, investing in nature creates economic opportunity. Every £1 spent on nature-based solutions can deliver up to £3 in economic and social returns — from job creation to improved public health and biodiversity. Recognizing that value and designing infrastructure that works with natural systems rather than against them are the next step in building resilience. Transitioning to a nature-positive economy is therefore key to the growth agenda, not counter to it. This is why Jacobs is a member of Rebuilding Nature, an alliance of cross-sector organizations who want to invest in nature now because it is critical national infrastructure.
Six actions to embed natural capital as critical infrastructure
The ISEP paper sets out six policy recommendations to embed natural capital in U.K. infrastructure planning and economic decision making:
- Formally recognize natural capital as critical national infrastructure, essential to the performance of existing sectors and the government’s growth agenda
- Create a Strategic Nature Network (SNN) as a Government Major and Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, to target investment where it will deliver the most ecological and economic benefit
- Integrate the SNN into National Policy Statements and spatial planning frameworks, to drive consistent reporting and measurable progress
- Mandate nature-related financial disclosures for critical sectors and public bodies, ensuring nature’s value is reflected in investment decisions
- Establish a Natural Infrastructure Investment Fund to finance early-stage nature recovery projects and give private investors the confidence to contribute
- Develop training and guidance so public and private decision-makers can apply natural capital approaches consistently and effectively
These actions would build on established evidence to shift the narrative from nature as a cost or a constraint to economic progress to protecting and investing in nature as a critical economic asset — one that underpins our national resilience.
A shift in mindset
Recognizing natural capital as critical infrastructure isn’t just an environmental imperative — it’s an economic one. It means acknowledging that the stability of our economy and society depends on the stability of the natural systems we too often take for granted.
If we want to futureproof the economy, we must plan, invest and innovate as though nature itself was part of our national infrastructure — because it is.
“This paper presents a positive vision and practical steps for U.K. government policy,” says ISEP Chief Executive Officer Sarah Mukherjee. “Its recommendations help align economic growth and sustainability agendas. Jacobs’ infrastructure and environmental capability, along with its network and facilitation skills, were central to the research and to refining insights across transport, energy, water and finance.”
Thank you to the ISEP Policy and Engagement Lead Lesley Wilson and Jacobs Principal Consultant, Natural Capital Approaches Oliver Seville for their contributions to this paper.
“There is a crucial relationship between the U.K.'s growth agenda and natural capital. The U.K.’s economic success is intrinsically dependent on natural capital, while enhancing natural capital will deliver growth opportunities.”
Jonathan Nichols
About the authors
Jonathan Nichols, Senior Associate Director – Natural Capital Approaches, Jacobs
Jonathan is a chartered environmentalist with over 12 years’ experience helping organizations value and manage nature as a core asset. Specializing in natural capital, ecosystem services, ecological economics and systems approaches, he works with utilities, local government, developers, investors and national bodies to embed natural capital value into planning, investment and design. Jonathan leads Jacobs’ Natural Capital team in the U.K., whose work has supported investment in nature recovery projects, advanced nature‑based solutions to tackle water pollution, carbon reduction and climate adaptation, and quantified the impacts of major infrastructure developments. The team helps clients manage and report on nature‑related risks and opportunities using the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures framework.
Lesley Wilson, Policy and Engagement Lead, ISEP (formerly the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment)
With a special focus on biodiversity and natural capital, Lesley has over 20 years of experience in sustainability- spanning strategy development, cross-government engagement and the integration of natural capital principles into decision making. This includes building strong partnerships, shaping policy that reflects ecological realities and championing solutions that support both environmental resilience and long-term prosperity.
Oliver Seville, Principal Consultant – Natural Capital Approaches, Jacobs
Oliver is a chartered environmentalist and principal natural capital consultant at Jacobs. He uses natural capital approaches and environmental economics to help infrastructure organizations understand and manage natural assets to achieve better outcomes. Oliver coordinates multi-disciplinary teams to evidence and evaluate the risks and opportunities for nature to support design and optioneering, business cases and consenting, as well as corporate strategy and sustainability disclosure.
