EA: Based on your experience at Ramboll, how can we better align the interests of developers, ecologists, and investors to embed biodiversity net gain and other nature-based solutions into mainstream infrastructure delivery?

LB: Regulatory certainty is the first step, wavering on the implementation or breadth has a chilling effect on investment and inclusion of biodiversity net gain in projects. From a buildings point of view, nature-based solutions work best when connected with networks that are organised at a city or regional level. We need well-resourced local authorities and regions who can invest the resources and leadership to integrate our critical buildings infrastructure – cities, hospitals, education, etc. - into a nature-based solution spatial strategy.

EA: What approaches have you seen work well when it comes to modelling adaptive pathways or future climate scenarios to make infrastructure more resilient over the long term? 

LB: One of the key roles that we can play as engineers to increase resilience is to advise clients on specifying appropriate climate scenarios for their design parameters. New build codes in many geographies reference future climate parameters. However, retrofit mandates are rare and weather files are often out of date. The huge push to refurbish existing buildings as part of our climate mitigation efforts is a golden opportunity to increase resilience for the long-term at the same time. 

EA: One of the biggest barriers to scaling NbS is the difficulty of quantifying return on investment. What are some of the more promising evaluation frameworks or metrics you've encountered that could help overcome this?

LB: We are part of a collaborative industry effort at the UK-GBC to establish a robust and shared understanding of what nature-positive means for the built environment industry. A consistent definition will help to repurpose the time and energy wasted on uncertainty towards finding solutions and challenges instead. At a recent event we held with Kings College in Cambridge, the Domus Bursar Polly Ingham highlighted this removal of uncertainty of the definition of net zero carbon as a key positive impact from the evolving UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard. The Framework Definition for a Nature-Positive Built Environment is a step towards removing that uncertainty for nature-based solutions in the UK building industry.

EA: From your perspective, what are the most innovative funding or investment models emerging to support nature-based infrastructure, and what’s needed to make them more mainstream?

LB: Partnerships between engineers and insurers is one interesting avenue. In 2025, Ramboll entered into a first of its kind strategic partnership with Tryg, Scandinavia’s largest insurer. In recent years, the Danes have experienced the consequences of climate change, through wilder and wetter weather. To help clients better navigate these challenges, Tryg and Ramboll have formed a strategic partnership. Through this partnership, we will jointly advise business clients on preventing weather-related damage and repairing building damage using, among other things, recyclable materials. It is the first time in Denmark that an insurance company and an engineering consultancy enter a partnership for joint solutions. While this is not specifically focussed on nature-based solutions, it has the potential to provide an innovative funding model. To scale up requires an evidence base of financial benefit for the insurer and harmonised metrics for risk and co-benefits.