NBS aim to reduce emissions and enhance resilience through actions in areas such as forest and other terrestrial ecosystems, marine and ocean ecosystems; sustainable agriculture and food systems; and nature’s systemic role in sustainable development in ways that end the loss of biodiversity and optimize nature’s contribution to resilient livelihoods, green infrastructure, sustainable settlements and just rural transitions.
The UN Climate Action Summit, to be convened by United Nations Secretary-General on 23 September 2019, is an unprecedented opportunity for leaders to raise climate ambition and accelerate action to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Nature-based solutions is one of the nine coalitions initiated by the UN Secretary-General to raise global ambition at the Summit and to ensure ‘transformative outcomes.’ The Nature-Based Solutions Coalition, co-led by China and New Zealand, has been working with nations and non-state actors to champion the incorporation of NBS within climate action, in ways that are transformative and innovative, for the implementation of the Paris Agreement.
The Summit, much like the IUCN World Conservation Congress, also provides an opportunity of cooperation - from government, finance, business, civil society and international organizations - to contribute to collective efforts that will tip the balance toward a more sustainable world. These include reversing climate change, implementing the Sustainable Development Goals, delivering multiple economic, social and environmental outcomes, and benefiting lives and livelihoods everywhere.
The NBS Coalition invites countries and organizations to express interest in joining the coalition in preparation for the UN Climate Action Summit. Members of the Coalition acknowledge the important role of nature in climate action and commit to unlocking its full potential through a range of actions, including:
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Increasing and mainstreaming NBS within national governance, climate action and climate policy-related instruments.
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Enhancing regional and international co-operation, in ways that encourage ambition, transparency and environmental integrity and are supported by popular mobilization and campaigns, by forming synergies with regional and international development cooperation agendas and initiatives that help deliver on SDGs.
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Generating the shifts needed in both domestic and international governance and finance to value nature and realize the potential of NBS.
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Scaling-up NBS for mitigation, resilience and adaptation in key areas, ensuring people’s livelihoods in the face of climate threats.
Bold action must be taken to conserve, restore and sustainably manage nature for climate mitigation and adaptation. The time to act is now. We will succeed by working together. The UN Climate Summit this month and the IUCN Congress in June 2020 are valuable opportunities for governments and other stakeholders to form the coalitions and make the commitments the world needs to reconnect people and nature, to implement the Paris Agreement effectively and to secure a sustainable future for all – both now and for generations to come.
About the authors:
Susan Gardner and Dr David Nabarro are co-facilitators of the Nature-Based Solutions workstream for the UN Secretary General's Climate Action Summit September 2019. Susan Gardner serves as Director, Ecosystems Division at UN Environment; David Nabarro as Professor of Global Health, Imperial College London and founder of 4SD Switzerland.
