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Nature Relationship Index (NRI)

Figure: Healthy human relationships with nature are diverse, abundant, and continue to evolve.

The forthcoming Nature Relationship Index (NRI) is currently under development by HDRO, and will build on research, technical inputs and consultations with a range of partners, and is expected to be featured in the 2026 Human Development Report (HDR). Inspired by HDRO’s Human Development Index (HDI), the NRI seeks to expand the definition of national progress by recognizing the importance of mutually beneficial relationships between people and the rest of life on Earth. The conceptual foundations of the NRI were outlined in the article "An Aspirational Approach to Planetary Futures," published in Nature in June 2025.

Learn more and share your feedback on the NRI and the paper by visiting this page.

The three dimensions of the NRI offer a new way to measure and motivate progress towards a future where people and nature thrive together: