AXA Group’s alternative investments business AXA the IM Alts announced today the launch of a new Natural Capital strategy, expanding its platform of nature-based solutions aimed at addressing climate change and preserve biodiversity. The strategy is being rolled out with €500 million in commitments from AXA Group investors.

The launch forms part of a commitment last year by AXA group to invest €1.5 billion to support sustainable forest management. AXA anticipates its investments will enable 25 megatons of CO2 to be captured annually.

The new strategy will focus on financing activity that ensures that vulnerable or high value natural habitats are protected from deforestation. This will include financing to address the drivers of deforestation, as well as to improve forest conservation efforts, quantified through the issuance of voluntary carbon credits.

The portfolio will identify investments including strategic equity, carbon solutions, and direct project financing.

Jean-Baptiste Tricot, Group Chief Investment Officer, AXA Group, commented,

“Forests represent 80% of the Earth’s biodiversity and play an essential role in the fight against climate change. At AXA Group, we are committed to using our capital to help preserve our planet’s natural ecosystems and address climate risk.”

Alongside the launch, AXA IM Alts also announced a series of appointments to grow its natural capital team. New recruits to the Natural Capital team include Adam Gibbon and Edoardo Cavallo, who both join the firm from NatureBased Ventures after working at sustainability-focused investor Mirova, and Camila Alva Estabridis, who joins the team after over a decade working in public policy with institutions such as the World Bank and the International Food Policy Research Institute.

Alexandre Martin Min, CIO, Structured Finance and Impact Private Equity at AXA IM Alts, said:  

“People and local market relationships are key to identifying and accessing investment solutions, particularly in such a complex environment. Over the last 10 years, we at AXA IM Alts have built a wide network of relationships, deepened our expertise and delivered many successful nature-based projects, making us well positioned to lead the acceleration of carbon solutions that seek to preserve natural capital.”