Seeking Clarity on Nature-Based Climate Solutions for Adaptation

The document defines the conceptual landscape of nature-based climate solutions, distinguishing between the broad umbrella of NbS and the adaptation-specific focus of EbA. It argues that for these measures to be legitimate and effective, they must be grounded in risk assessments and robust social and environmental safeguards to prevent rights violations and biodiversity loss. The text provides practical examples of EbA across various ecosystems and outlines a framework for future implementation based on gender responsiveness, social inclusion, and biodiversity benefits.

• Nature-based Solutions (NbS) serves as an umbrella term for actions that manage natural or modified ecosystems to address social, economic, and environmental challenges while providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits. Nature-based Climate Solutions (NBCS) are a subset of NbS focused on climate adaptation and mitigation, while Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) specifically focuses on societal adaptation to climate change.
• General conservation or restoration projects are only classified as NBCS for adaptation or EbA if they meet four specific criteria: they must be oriented toward managing climate risks and ecological resilience, target specific groups based on vulnerability assessments, integrate ecosystem processes, and consider local social and cultural contexts.
• NbS and NBCS are subject to significant criticism, including concerns that they may be misused for climate mitigation in ways that violate the rights of Indigenous Peoples, lead to the commodification of nature, or enable 'greenwashing' by allowing the private sector to offset harm rather than reducing emissions.
• To ensure legitimacy and efficacy, NBCS must incorporate robust social and environmental safeguards. This includes preventing 'land grabs' and the marginalization of vulnerable communities, as well as avoiding ecological mistakes such as planting trees in grasslands or savannahs where they may harm local livelihoods and groundwater recharge.
• The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted a set of principles and safeguards in 2018 for EbA and disaster risk reduction. These include environmental impact assessments, the prevention of harm to biodiversity, transparent governance, and the respect for the rights of women and men from Indigenous and local communities.
• Practical applications of EbA have demonstrated measurable benefits across diverse environments: in Mongolia, wetland restoration improved water security; in Ecuador, agroecological management increased productivity by over 12%; in Russia, peatland restoration reduced CO2eq by 175,000 to 220,000 tonnes per year; and in the Seychelles, coral reef restoration increased fish abundance fivefold.

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} }