A LEAP for Nature: Advancing Nature-related Financial Risk and Opportunity Assessment in Malaysia

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A LEAP for Nature: Advancing Nature-related Financial Risk and Opportunity Assessment in Malaysia

JUNE 11, 2026

This joint report by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), the World Bank, and United Nations Development Programme’s Biodiversity Finance Initiative (UNDP BIOFIN) provides a guide for financial institutions and firms to assess and disclose nature-related dependencies, impacts, risks and opportunities (DIROs). It aims to: 1) Assess the current state of nature-related risk assessments and disclosures among Malaysian financial institutions and firms; 2) Identify key gaps and challenges in these practices; and 3) Provide practical guidance and recommendations to accelerate progress across the financial ecosystem. The findings of this report are substantiated by several analytical components: an updated ENCORE analysis of nature-related dependencies and impacts within Malaysian banks’ commercial lending portfolios; two nationwide readiness surveys conducted with financial institutions and publicly listed companies; and five pilot LEAP assessments with three financial institutions and two firms.

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