Seeking Clarity on Nature-Based Climate Solutions for Adaptation

This guidance note from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) clarifies the conceptual framework of Nature-based Solutions (NbS), Nature-based Climate Solutions (NBCS), and Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA), with a specific focus on climate adaptation. It outlines the requirements for a project to be classified as NBCS for adaptation, provides practical examples across various ecosystems, and discusses the social and environmental safeguards necessary to prevent rights violations and ecological harm.

• The document distinguishes between three nested concepts: Nature-based Solutions (NbS) is the broad umbrella term for actions that manage ecosystems to address social, economic, and environmental challenges; Nature-based Climate Solutions (NBCS) are a subset of NbS specifically focused on climate change adaptation and mitigation; and Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) is a further subset of NBCS that focuses specifically on societal adaptation to climate change.
• For a project to be formally considered NBCS for adaptation or EbA, it must meet four specific criteria: it must be oriented toward managing climate risks and enhancing ecological resilience; it must target specific groups based on risk or vulnerability assessments; it must integrate ecosystem processes; and it must account for local environmental, economic, and social contexts.
• NBCS for adaptation can be applied across diverse ecosystems to address specific climate impacts. Examples include sustainable watershed management in Mongolia to combat drought, agroecological management in Ecuador to address shifting seasons, constructed wetlands in Sydney to manage extreme heat and stormwater, peatland restoration in Russia to reduce flood risk, and coral reef restoration in the Seychelles to mitigate storm surges and sea level rise.
• The policy landscape for NbS and NBCS is contested, lacking a universally accepted legal definition or binding implementing guidelines, although the Ecosystem Approach and EbA have been legally adopted by parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
• Critics of NbS express concerns regarding the potential for rights violations, particularly for Indigenous Peoples, citing past failures in REDD+ projects. Other criticisms include the 'commodification of nature,' the risk of 'greenwashing' through the use of offsets to avoid actual emissions reductions, and the ambiguity of the term 'NbS' which allows it to be interpreted to suit various private or government interests.
• To ensure legitimacy and efficacy, NBCS must incorporate robust social and environmental safeguards. This includes preventing 'land grabs' and the marginalization of vulnerable communities through rights-based and gender-responsive approaches, as well as avoiding ecological harm, such as planting trees in grasslands or savannahs where they may disrupt local livelihoods and groundwater recharge.

APA

Lo, V., Qi, J., & Jang, N. (2022). Seeking Clarity on Nature-Based Climate Solutions for Adaptation. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2022-06/seeking-clarity-nature-based-climate-solutions-adaptation-en.pdf

Chicago

Lo, Veronica, Jeffrey Qi, and Nicole Jang. Seeking Clarity on Nature-Based Climate Solutions for Adaptation. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2022. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2022-06/seeking-clarity-nature-based-climate-solutions-adaptation-en.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Lo |first1=Veronica |last2=Qi |first2=Jeffrey |last3=Jang |first3=Nicole |title=Seeking Clarity on Nature-Based Climate Solutions for Adaptation |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=June 2022 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2022-06/seeking-clarity-nature-based-climate-solutions-adaptation-en.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{lo2022seeking, author = {Lo, Veronica and Qi, Jeffrey and Jang, Nicole}, title = {{Seeking Clarity on Nature-Based Climate Solutions for Adaptation}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2022}, month = jun, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2022-06/seeking-clarity-nature-based-climate-solutions-adaptation-en.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }