Strengthening Natural Infrastructure Through Public Policy

The need for strong public policy to strengthen the use of nature in meeting our water (and other) needs is increasingly clear. However, exactly how and what public policy can help in this space is perhaps less understood.

This webinar brings together experts to highlight some efforts in the public policy arena. We will hear about the U.S. Nature-Based Solutions Roadmap developed by the United States Presidency to “unleash nature’s full potential,” as well as leading efforts and opportunities in this space from a Canadian perspective.

This webinar is the third in a series of three fall webinars by IISD's Natural Infrastructure for Water Solutions (NIWS). Learn about Overcoming Capacity Limitations for Rural and Small Municipalities Across the Prairies from our first webinar and watch our second webinar, Pathways to Financing Natural Infrastructure in Canada.

Our Speakers

Dr. Lydia Olander is the Director of Nature-Based Resilience at the White House Council on Environmental Quality, where she leads work on nature-based solutions, coastal resilience, and community-driven relocation. 

She also works on compensatory mitigation, climate resilience for natural systems, natural capital accounting, and incorporating ecosystem services into benefit-cost analysis. She has worked at the intersection of science and policy for two decades, supporting decision-makers in addressing environmental challenges.

Guy Greenaway is the Executive Director, Corvus Centre for Conservation Policy. 

Guy’s 25-year career has involved research, facilitation, and communication in several areas of nature conservation in Canada, primarily through non-government organizations but also through private consulting and volunteering.

Guy’s work has focused on natural infrastructure, private land conservation, market-based instruments, sustainable land use, strategic planning, ecosystem services valuation, agricultural land conservation, conservation policy development, community visioning, and municipal conservation planning.

Laniel Bateman is the Director for Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Policy at Environment and Climate Change Canada. She joined Environment Canada in 2003 and has worked on a broad range of files, primarily related to climate change and nature.

Prior to joining the Government of Canada, she worked for an environmental non-government organization and in the private sector in wetland remediation. Laniel holds an Environmental Science degree from the University of Guelph.

Resources:

• Opportunities to Accelerate Nature-Based Solutions: A Roadmap for Climate Progress, Thriving Nature, Equity, and Prosperity – United States government report
• The State of Play of Natural Infrastructure on the Canadian Prairies – NIWS report
• Natural Infrastructure for Water Solutions (NIWS)

Thanks to our partners at: