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The document advocates for the integration of nature-based solutions (NbS)—including green and natural infrastructure—into U.S. national infrastructure planning. It highlights that NbS are often more cost-effective and resilient than traditional 'gray' infrastructure, providing significant benefits in flood mitigation, heat reduction, and carbon sequestration. The text provides specific economic data on the cost-savings of living shorelines and green storm drainage systems compared to concrete alternatives, while emphasizing the co-benefits of improved water quality and public health.

Attend Ambiental issued a BRL55m (USD13m) green bond on 09-10-2019 with a maturity date of 15-10-2026. The bond is designated as the first Brazilian green bond to exclusively finance water and waste projects, specifically targeting the refinancing of industrial waste treatment facilities in Barueri, Sao Paulo. The proceeds cover a loan from US Bank and Corporación Interamericana para el Financiamiento de Infraestructura (CIFI) used for plant construction, extension, and investments in four pre-treatment lines. The issuer, a partnership between Sabesp and Estre, commits to annual reporting on the allocation of proceeds and impacts via its website and Sustainability Report.

The Lab has launched six financial instruments targeting blue carbon, sustainable agriculture, sustainable cities, and energy access. These instruments, which follow a seven-month design and stress-testing period, aim to mobilize significant investment for sustainable development. Key projects include mangrove restoration in the Philippines, blockchain-based crop insurance in Kenya, and solar securitization in Rwanda.

The report examines over 90 cases of infrastructure planning, focusing on three case studies in developing economies and examples from the US and UK, to advocate for holistic approaches that preserve ecosystem services and mitigate climate change effects.

The 'Sustainable Infrastructure in the Amazon' project, running from July 2019 to December 2020, aims to strengthen socio-environmental criteria in the decision-making process for infrastructure projects. It combines economic analysis via a market access tool with regulatory and governance analysis to identify the most effective stages of a project's life cycle for incorporating socio-environmental variables, specifically targeting the feasibility study phase to reduce impacts during implementation.

The briefing analyzes the need for a coordinated approach to legislative proposals regulating infrastructure in Brazil. It suggests that strengthening Technical, Economic, and Environmental Feasibility Studies (EVTEA) and integrating environmental considerations earlier in the project cycle can reduce conflicts and increase investment security.

The 'Sustainable Infrastructure in the Amazon' project, running from July 2019 to December 2020, aims to improve the quality of infrastructure in Brazil by incorporating social and environmental risk assessments into the decision-making process. The initiative specifically targets the feasibility study phase as the optimal time to anticipate these risks to ensure more robust and sustainable project implementation. The project employs a dual approach consisting of economic analysis and regulatory/governance analysis to develop evidence-based proposals for the Brazilian government.

The document is a transcript of a briefing on coastal resilience in the Northeast US. It details the Massachusetts Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) program, the Waterfront Alliance's efforts to build consensus in the New York City metro area, and the Island Institute's work with rural coastal and island communities in Maine. The discussion emphasizes the role of nature-based solutions, the challenges of funding and capacity in rural areas, and the need for equitable, risk-informed governance to address sea level rise and coastal flooding.

The document advocates for the integration of nature-based solutions (NbS)—categorized into green and natural infrastructure—as a resilient alternative or supplement to traditional 'gray' manmade infrastructure in the U.S. It details how NbS can mitigate coastal storm damage, inland flooding, and extreme heat while providing co-benefits like carbon sequestration and improved water quality. The text provides specific cost comparisons and case studies from various U.S. cities and states to demonstrate the economic and environmental efficacy of these approaches.

The 'Recharge Pakistan' project is a 10-year initiative (2020-2030) designed to shift Pakistan's flood management from a reliance on 'grey' hard-infrastructure to 'green' ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA). With an indicative total cost of USD 150 million, the project aims to reduce flood risk and enhance groundwater recharge at six selected sites along a 1,300km stretch of the Indus River. The project targets direct benefits for 10 million people and indirect benefits for 20 million others by restoring wetlands, managing hill torrents, and diversifying community livelihoods. It is led by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) as the Accredited Entity, with the Federal Flood Commission and the Ministry of Climate Change serving as executing entities.

The document explores nature-based solutions—such as wetlands, oyster reefs, and dune restoration—as alternatives or complements to traditional 'gray' infrastructure for mitigating storm surge, flooding, and erosion along the U.S. Gulf Coast. It highlights the role of regional partnerships like the Gulf of Mexico Alliance and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Coastal Program in implementing these strategies. A significant portion of the discussion focuses on the 'sediment crisis,' arguing for the beneficial use of dredged material to rebuild marshes and beaches. The panel concludes with legislative recommendations for the U.S. Congress, including reforming Army Corps of Engineers' cost-benefit ratios and funding pre-disaster mitigation.

The briefing outlines four strategic priorities for the upcoming UN Climate Action and SDG Summits: ramping up ambition for systemic economic change, ensuring a just transition that protects vulnerable populations, scaling high-impact solutions across six key sectors, and establishing inclusive long-term goals for carbon neutrality and equity.

The document argues that ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA)—the use of biodiversity and ecosystem services to help people adapt to climate change—is a sustainable development approach that provides socio-economic, adaptation, and conservation benefits. While South Africa has national frameworks for EbA, implementation in coastal cities faces significant hurdles, including a lack of promulgated Coastal Management Lines (CMLs), complex jurisdictional overlaps between national and local government, and a persistent preference for 'grey' engineering solutions over nature-based ones. Case studies of Cape Town and Durban highlight successes such as hybrid dune rehabilitation and the use of 'climate change champions' to break down institutional silos, but also reveal challenges like funding gaps and public lack of buy-in among poor communities who prioritize immediate economic needs over environmental resilience.

The document details how the 115th Congress integrated resilience into various sectors through legislation like the Disaster Recovery Reform Act and the National Defense Authorization Act. It highlights the rising economic costs of climate-driven disasters, the importance of pre-disaster mitigation, and the role of nature-based infrastructure in reducing risk. The authors argue that while progress has been made in defense, water, and transportation, the federal government must further institutionalize climate adaptation and resilience metrics to protect lives and property.

The document details how the 115th Congress integrated resilience into various sectors through legislation like the Disaster Recovery Reform Act, the Water Resources Development Act, and the National Defense Authorization Act. It highlights the rising economic costs of inaction, noting that 2017 alone saw $312.7 billion in disaster damages. The text emphasizes the shift toward pre-disaster mitigation, nature-based infrastructure, and the need for the 116th Congress to address energy grid resilience and National Flood Insurance Program reform.

The document defines natural infrastructure (NI) as ecosystems providing infrastructure services and distinguishes between 'natural' (e.g., wetlands) and 'green-grey' (e.g., permeable pavements) types. It argues that NI is generally more cost-effective than grey infrastructure, offering co-benefits in land security, climate regulation, and water security. However, adoption is hindered by high transaction costs, long time horizons for full capacity, and a lack of standardized quantitative evaluation tools. The report provides specific cost data for artificial wetlands and restoration projects, while identifying policy interventions—such as rating systems and market instruments—to incentivize investment.

The report argues that wealth and wellbeing depend on natural capital—the stock of renewable and non-renewable resources that provide essential ecosystem services. It highlights that natural capital can account for 30% to 50% of national wealth in various countries, yet traditional GDP measures fail to capture this value. The document outlines how governments can generate societal returns (e.g., poverty reduction and public health), economic returns (e.g., business resilience and green infrastructure), and environmental returns (e.g., ecological resilience). To scale these benefits, the report proposes twelve specific levers for government action, ranging from implementing UN-SEEA accounting frameworks and creating public-private partnerships to mainstreaming natural capital into macro indicators and implementing mandatory non-financial disclosures.

The report argues that tokenization—the digitalization of assets into cryptographic tokens on a blockchain—can make sustainable infrastructure more bankable by lowering transaction costs and increasing liquidity. It highlights that sustainable projects often face higher upfront capital expenditures and perceived technological risks, necessitating innovative financing. The document also references specific sustainable asset valuation assessments in Mongolia and Colombia.

The report evaluates green economy (GE) investments in Georgia, focusing on buildings, agriculture, and tourism. Using the SAVi methodology, it demonstrates that while traditional financial analysis suggests these investments may not be profitable, incorporating environmental, social, and economic externalities reveals a high sustainable internal rate of return (S-IRR) of 84% and a sustainable net present value (S-NPV) of approximately GEL 20.4 billion.

The report argues that tokenizing the equity or debt of sustainable infrastructure projects can lower the cost of capital and make these assets more bankable. It identifies key value propositions including reduced underwriting and secondary market fees, enhanced transparency through IoT integration, and the democratization of investment via fractional ownership. However, it notes significant regulatory hurdles regarding security token compliance and technical challenges concerning the reliability of the Ethereum blockchain and the 'oracle problem' of linking on-chain tokens to off-chain physical assets. The document provides examples of Swiss start-ups like Tokenestate, Smart Valor, and Mt Pelerin that are developing security token standards and marketplaces to facilitate this transition.