Reece Buckley

Document Type

Research Project

Publication Date

9-30-2025

Abstract

This policy proposal introduces Bio-Resilience Bonds (BRBs), a performance-based financial instrument designed to monetise microbial ecosystem services as measurable climate infrastructure. Microbial ecosystems are crucial for climate resilience, yet they are often overlooked in mainstream adaptation f inance frameworks. Their ability to regulate carbon and nitrogen cycles, reduce methane emissions and enhance soil and water stability (Delgado-Baquerizo et al., 2016) makes them essential assets for climate mitigation and adaptation. With global adaptation needs exceeding £2.7 trillion (UNEP, 2024), this oversight indicates a systemic failure to recognise biology as a form of infrastructure. BRBs transform microbial outputs into localised key performance indicators (KPIs) (Bodkhe et al., 2025), which are validated through biosensor networks, blockchain-enabled ledgers and third-party monitoring protocols (Rinken & Kivirand, 2019). This decentralised verification system enhances operational credibility, allowing sovereign and sub sovereign entities to incorporate living systems into their adaptation planning. Case studies have demonstrated the feasibility of BRBs across soil, aquatic and reef ecosystems. Additionally, by incorporating Indigenous governance, protecting microbial intellectual property and establishing revenue-sharing frameworks (Riley & Moran, 2010), BRBs address long-standing equity and stewardship gaps in climate finance. This advocates for a strategic rethinking of adaptation infrastructure, one that prioritises biological measurability, inclusive resilience and scalable innovation.

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