Today, the Natural History Museum, London (NHM) and BlackRock announced a collaboration to make the Museum’s Biodiversity Intactness Index (BII) available to investors in select BlackRock funds and to interested portfolio managers. The data, developed by NHM researchers, is widely recognised as one of the most scientifically robust ways to model biodiversity health and is emerging as a critical dataset for quantifying local ecosystem health to inform nature-aware investment decisions.
BlackRock will use the NHM dataset to build a signal for the BlackRock Sustainable Investing Intelligence™ (“BSI Intel”) platform, which manages $125 billion in strategies.[1] Many of BlackRock’s investors and clients are looking to better understand how nature-related data can inform investment decision-making. BSI Intel utilises data science and forward-looking indicators to identify, within sectors, companies that could benefit from sustainability dynamics that may not be fully priced in.
The Museum’s BII tracks how biodiversity is affected by human activities, including land-use change and intensification of urban heat island effects. Using global data across more than 76,000 species and 50,000 locations[2], the BII dataset not only captures historical trends but also has the potential to enable forward-looking scenario modelling to support investment decision-making.
Chris Kaminker PhD, Head of Sustainable Investment Research and Analytics and CIO for BSI Intel at BlackRock, said: ‘Our clients have entrusted us as a fiduciary to manage over $1.3 trillion[3] in sustainable and transition assets. With that, more than 80% of our largest clients in Europe and APAC have set some form of sustainability objective. Their investment requirements have become increasingly sophisticated and specific. We are delighted to announce the integration of this important financially material dataset into our offering to continue to better serve our clients in meeting their sustainability-related investment decisions.’
Dr. Doug Gurr, Director of the Natural History Museum, London, said: ‘This landmark collaboration with BlackRock marks a new chapter in our efforts to advance awareness of biodiversity loss. As part of that, it is vital to equip investors with the tools to better understand and measure the financially material impacts on nature. We believe this initiative has the potential to accelerate the mobilisation of finance towards addressing biodiversity challenges.’
More than half of global gross domestic product (GDP) — an estimated USD $58 trillion — is moderately or highly dependent on nature, and biodiversity loss is becoming an increasingly financially material risk to investors.[4] [5] [6] BlackRock’s research shows that only a portion of natural capital’s value to the economy is has been priced into markets.[7] At the same time, the depletion and/or degradation of natural resources is already imposing a financial cost for companies exposed to physical risks, as well as changing consumer and investor preferences.[8] For example, companies that rely heavily on water may face increased costs and potential operational disruptions if water becomes scarce.
About The Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is a world-leading scientific research centre and the UK’s number one visitor attraction.
We are welcoming more than 7 million people to our blockbuster exhibitions, galleries and gardens and our 350 scientists are finding solutions to the planetary emergency – from reversing biodiversity loss to resourcing the green economy.
With over 80 million specimens, spanning 4.5 billion years, the breadth and depth of the Museum’s collection make it the most important of its kind in the world.
Through our NHM150 campaign, we are raising an additional £150 million to transform our iconic building and meet our mission of creating over 100 million advocates for the planet by 2031 – the Museum’s 150th anniversary.
About BlackRock
BlackRock’s purpose is to help more and more people experience financial well-being. As a fiduciary to investors and a leading provider of financial technology, we help millions of people build savings that serve them throughout their lives by making investing easier and more affordable. For additional information on BlackRock, please visit www.blackrock.com/corporate.
Press Contacts
Natural History Museum Press Office
Tel: +44 (0)20 7942 5654 / 07799690151
Email: [email protected]
BlackRock
Contact: Mary Brouder-Murphy
Tel: +39 02 91597046
Email: [email protected]
[1] BlackRock as of December 31, 2025.
[2] Natural History Museum (2025), Natural History Museum’s Biodiversity Intactness Index Gains Ground Among Corporate and Investment Industry (30 September 2025).
[3] Morningstar Global Sustainable fund flows, as of Q4 2025. Covers assets as defined by Morningstar to have a sustainability focus. BlackRock (including iShares) has the largest global sustainable fund assets across passively managed funds.
[4] PwC, “How much does your bottom line depend on nature?”, September 2025, accessed in December 2025.
[5] Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures, “Evidence review on the financial effects of nature-related risks”, August 2025.
[6] Dasgupta, Partha. 2021. The Economics of Biodiversity: The Dasgupta Review. HM Treasury.
[7] BlackRock Investment Institute, “Capital at risk: nature through an investment lens,” August 2024.
[8] BlackRock Investment Institute, “Capital at risk: nature through an investment lens,” August 2024.
