Challenging coloniality and racial injustice in finance for nature

Working paper
, 53 pages
PDF (1.87 MB)
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Language:
English
Published: February 2026
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ISBN: 9781837591800
Product code:22688IIED

Generating finance to protect and restore nature is crucial to address the worsening global biodiversity crisis. However, most nature finance is delivered within a neo-colonial and racially unjust global financial architecture, leading to inequitable and ineffective allocation of resources. 

In this exploratory paper, we introduce a discussion on coloniality and racial injustice in nature finance aimed at donors, governments and intermediary organisations involved in the delivery of nature finance.

We present learning examples of nature finance mechanisms, and offer recommendations on actions to disrupt the colonial logic and racial hierarchies that underpin global nature finance flows, in order to deliver more effective and just conservation.

Cite this publication

Sorsby, N., Lartey, N., Swiderska, K., Gul, M. and Lomotey, M. (2026). Challenging coloniality and racial injustice in finance for nature. IIED, London.
Available at https://www.iied.org/22688iied