Nature-Based Solutions as a Catalyst for Achieving Mutual Benefits for People, Nature, and Climate: Lessons learned from China and globally
Nature-based solutions (NbS) can potentially provide up to 37% of cost-effective global CO2 mitigation targets by 2030, while limiting global warming to 1.5C can lower biodiversity loss by 50%. According to the World Economic Forum’s New Nature Economy Report, NbS could unlock an estimated USD 10 trillion of business opportunities and have the ability to create 395 million jobs in 2030, beyond providing important biodiversity, climate mitigation, and adaptation outcomes. NbS also provide important social and health benefits, employment opportunities, and poverty alleviation that make valuable contributions to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
With this in mind, NbS are promoted as the best way to achieve human well-being, tackle climate change, and protect our living planet. The increasing political recognition of climate change and biodiversity crises and the need to protect and enhance nature’s multiple benefits has never seemed more urgent.
Despite many pilot projects, NbS are still underutilized for meeting specific climate, biodiversity, and infrastructure needs. One critical gap is a lack of evidence demonstrating that NbS solutions provide tangible, measurable outcomes that contribute to meeting climate, biodiversity, and other national and international needs and targets. This lack of evidence prevents the adoption of NbS projects, financing for NbS, and broad recognition that NbS are a cost-effective means of meeting climate, biodiversity, and related socio-economic needs.
Co-hosted by IISD and the China Council for International Cooperation On Environment and Development (CCICED), this high-level virtual event will foster discussion of the evidence of nature-based solutions for biodiversity, climate change mitigation, and adaptation outcomes. Featured speakers will share their experience on the application of NbS to provide long-term social, ecological, and economic benefits. In particular, the event will highlight leading Chinese practices (e.g., Turning cities into sponges; the Loess Plateau; Ecological Conservation Red Line) as well as Europe’s NbS work under the Horizon 2020 Program and the new European Green Deal.
In addition, the event will feature an expert discussion on assessing the impact and results of NbS, their added value, and policy relevance. Panelists will also share research results and key lessons learned from the resulting evidence base and how NbS can support policy implementation. The outcome of the event will be a practical understanding of the multiple advantages of NbS, including climate mitigation and adaptation, as well as ecological, social, and economic benefits.
Objectives
- Promote NbS as a practical means to achieve benefits for climate, biodiversity, and well-being.
- Highlight specific social and economic benefits from NbS, including how to assess the impacts of NbS and key lessons emerging from the resulting evidence base
- Share and identify actions and opportunities to strengthen strategies and advance the uptake and implementation of NbS.
Moderator
Dr. Richard Florizone – President and CEO of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)
Agenda
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1:00 pm (GMT+1) |
Opening RemarksPatricia Fuller – Canada's Ambassador for Climate Change Scott Vaughan – International Chief Advisor, CCICED |
| 1:05 pm (GMT+1) |
Unlocking the Potential of NbSAloke Barnwal – Senior Climate Change Specialist, Global Environment Facility
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1:20 pm (GMT+1)
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What Nature-Based Solutions Can Do for UsWang Yi – Vice President, Institute of Science and Development, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Co-Team Lead, CCICED SPS 1-1 Global Climate Governance and China’s Role
Sofie Vandewoestijne - Project Adviser, European Commission DG Research and Innovation
The Future of Nature and Business Akanksha Khatri – Head of Nature Action Agenda, World Economic Forum
Panel Discussion and Q&A Commentaries provided by: Bernice Lee – Executive Director, Hoffmann Centre on the Sustainable Resource Economy, Chatham House, CCICED Special Advisor Changxin Zou – Division Director of Research Centre for Ecological Protection and Restoration, Nanjing Institute of Environmental Science, Ministry of Ecology and Environment |
| 2:05 pm (GMT+1) |
Building the Business Case for Nature-Based SolutionsAssessing the economic value of Nature-based Solutions Andrea Bassi – Senior Associate, IISD
Biodiversity loss and nature-based solutions: A view from re/insurance Oliver Schelske – Natural Assets & ESG Research Lead, Swiss Re Institute
Rachel Terry – Programme Manager, Van Oord
Panel Discussion & Q&A Commentary provided by: Sagarika Chatterjee – Director of Climate Change, Principles for Responsible Investment and COP26 High-Level Climate Action Champions Team; Co-Team Lead, CCICED SPS 4-3 Green Finance |
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2:50 pm (GMT+1) |
ClosingScott Vaughan – International Chief Advisor, CCICED |
Other NbS events
Financing Nature-Based Infrastructure
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Canada’s Action on Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Adaptation
This international virtual event will profile Canada’s experience with Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) for adaptation.
Webinar: Making Climate-Resilient Infrastructure the Norm
This webinar will explore approaches to calculating the cost of climate risks and externalities. We will also discuss the risks assessment conducted using the Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi). It is co-organized by IISD and the Global Commission on Adaptation.
The Race To Zero Dialogues | Gender-Responsive and Socially Equitable Resilience
As part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Race to Zero Dialogues, this event will explore the challenges and opportunities for gender-responsive climate action with a focus on resilience and social protection.