What Australian Climate and Biodiversity Foundation does

The Australian Climate and Biodiversity Foundation (ACBF) is an Australian not-for-profit policy and advocacy foundation established in 2021 and headquartered in Sydney. Its mission is to drive Australia toward a Nature Positive economy by convening leaders from conservation, government, and the private sector to develop evidence-based policy, reform environmental regulation, and mobilize private investment into nature protection and restoration. ACBF operates three integrated priority areas: Strong Nature Laws (reforming the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act), Forestry Reform (transitioning away from native forest logging toward plantation-based supply), and the Forests and Carbon Program (developing carbon storage and carbon market mechanisms such as the Great Koala National Park initiative).

ACBF does not sell products or services and operates without proprietary technology. Its outputs are policy initiatives (Strong Nature Laws Advocacy, Forestry Reform, Forests and Carbon), commissioned research publications (including 'A Muddy Mess' on land clearing and bioregional planning reports for NSW and Queensland), and multimedia content for public engagement. Revenue is sourced from donations and grants from mission-aligned donors and partners; no financials are publicly disclosed. The foundation employs approximately 11 staff across research, government engagement, partnerships, communications, governance, and state management roles, supported by a Board chaired by former Treasury Secretary Dr Ken Henry and including senior figures from Macquarie Asset Management, Potentia Capital, and the Business Council of Australia.

ACBF's go-to-market is government and corporate engagement rather than commercial sales: it advocates directly with federal and state policymakers, builds broad-based coalitions across conservation, business, academia, unions, agriculture, and First Nations groups, and uses earned media, a National Press Club address, and a content creator partnership program to shape public debate. Its most consequential outcome to date is the passage of significant EPBC Act amendments in December 2025, which created an independent national Environment Protection Authority, enforceable National Environmental Standards, a Net Gain requirement, and removal of Regional Forestry Agreement exemptions.

Name

Australian Climate and Biodiversity Foundation

Legal name

Australian Climate and Biodiversity Foundation Limited

Website

https://climatebiodiversity.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Australian Climate and Biodiversity Foundation is a Sydney-based non-profit founded in 2021 that drives evidence-based policy reform to protect and restore Australian forests and biodiversity, convening leaders from government, business, and conservation to deliver a Nature Positive economy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Policy Advocacy

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Support Activities for Forestry (11531)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Nature, Biodiversity & Ecosystem Conservation (BPADALAE), Avoided Conversion & Ecosystem Protection (REDD+, Blue Carbon Conservation) (EUABABAC)

Keywords

• Environmental policy advocacy
• Nature positive economy
• Biodiversity conservation
• Carbon market development
• Forest protection policy

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydney

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: As a not-for-profit organization established in 2021, ACBF relies on donations and grants from mission-aligned donors and partners. The organization advocates for private investment mobilization toward nature protection and restoration projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Australian Climate and Biodiversity Foundation is a not-for-profit policy and advocacy organization that commissions evidence-based research, convenes leaders across government, business, and conservation sectors, and advocates for environmental law reform, native forest protection, and carbon market development. The foundation's core work centers on three policy priorities: Strong Nature Laws (EPBC Act reform), Forestry Reform (ending native forest logging), and Carbon Markets (recognising the economic value of forests and biodiversity). Its outputs are policy research reports, advocacy campaigns, and coalition-building initiatives aimed at helping Australia achieve a Nature Positive economy in line with the Global Biodiversity Framework.

Product overview

The Australian Climate and Biodiversity Foundation (ACBF) is a not-for-profit policy organization, not a technology product company. Its offerings consist of policy advocacy initiatives and research publications focused on environmental protection and nature-positive outcomes. The core initiatives include: Strong Nature Laws Advocacy for EPBC Act reform, Forestry Reform Initiative to end native forest logging, and Forests and Carbon Program supporting forest protection for carbon sequestration. Supporting offerings include Bioregional Planning Reports commissioned to evaluate planning frameworks, and Multimedia Content Production for campaign engagement. These are advocacy and policy products rather than software or technology products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Strong Nature Laws Advocacy
• Forestry Reform Initiative
• Forests and Carbon Program
• Bioregional Planning Reports Commissioned research reports evaluating bioregional planning as a tool to deliver improved environmental outcomes and expedite renewable energy development approvals, including case studies in NSW and Queensland regions. Targeted at federal and state government policy makers and renewable energy stakeholders.
• Multimedia Content Production Digital content production service producing multimedia content including video, social media content, articles and explainers to support public engagement on nature and biodiversity issues in Australia. Targeted at the Australian public, political and business leaders, and movement stakeholders.

Quantifiable outcome

• December 2025 EPBC Act amendments became law delivering fundamental changes including independent national Environment Protection Authority, enforceable National Environmental Standards, Net Gain requirements, and removal of regional forestry exemptions

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• WWF-Australia: Large, established Australian conservation organization operating across species, habitat, climate, and policy programs. Comparable to ACBF on biodiversity, forest protection, and policy advocacy, but with a much broader program portfolio and global WWF affiliation.
• The Nature Conservancy (Australia): Global conservation nonprofit with an active Australia program, engaging in nature markets, indigenous land management, and large-scale land conservation partnerships. Comparable in mission and tools for nature-based solutions, but with significantly greater scale and global brand.
• The Pew Charitable Trusts (Environment Portfolio): US-based philanthropic foundation with international environmental policy and ocean/forestry conservation programs. Comparable as a research-driven philanthropy that commissions evidence-based policy and convenes coalitions; broader geographic and thematic scope.

Direct peers

• ClimateWorks Centre: Australian climate policy and systems-change nonprofit (Monash Sustainable Development Institute), commissioning research and convening leaders on decarbonization pathways. Comparable on evidence-based policy research, coalition building, and systems-change framing, but narrower on climate than nature/biodiversity.
• Australian Conservation Foundation: Australia's largest national environmental advocacy nonprofit, campaigning on nature laws reform, climate, and biodiversity protection. Closest direct peer to ACBF given overlapping mission on EPBC Act reform, forest protection, and coalition-based national advocacy.
• BirdLife Australia: Australian bird conservation nonprofit that combines species-focused science with policy advocacy on threatened species habitat, including forestry and land-clearing policy. Comparable policy advocacy approach tied to biodiversity outcomes.
• Bush Heritage Australia: Australian nonprofit focused on acquiring and managing land for conservation, with strong donor-based funding model. Compares on mission (protecting Australian landscapes and biodiversity), but differs in delivery model (direct land management vs. policy advocacy).
• The Wilderness Society (Australia): Australian environmental advocacy nonprofit focused on forest protection, including native forest logging campaigns. Note: ACBF's Head of Partnerships Felicity Wade previously led Wilderness Society NSW; explicit organizational overlap in priorities and personnel.

Others

• Environmental Defenders Office (Australia): Australian nonprofit legal center using environmental law to protect nature, including litigation on EPBC Act matters. Adjacent ecosystem player; comparable mission but delivers through legal advocacy rather than policy research and coalition convening.
• Carbon Market Institute: Australian nonprofit industry association focused on carbon markets integrity and policy. Adjacent to ACBF's carbon markets and forests advocacy; complementary rather than competitive, working on the same regulatory architecture for high-integrity offsets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/australian-climate-and-biodiversity-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Australian Climate and Biodiversity Foundation