Nature-based solutions: delivering national-level adaptation and global goals

Many of the world’s vital natural ecosystems, and the communities reliant on
them, are vulnerable to climate change. But there is increasing recognition
that ecosystems — if sustainably restored and protected — can also form a
strong line of defence against the direct impacts of climate change and
support human adaptation over the long term. As the evidence base grows,
ecosystems are increasingly prominent in climate change policy, especially in
developing nations. Yet intentions rarely translate into robust and informed
measurable targets, undermining action. As signatories to the Paris
Agreement revise their Nationally Determined Contributions for 2020, we
argue that nature-based solutions are a key tool for meeting global goals on
climate change and sustainable development. We urge national policymakers
to work with scientists to identify meaningful targets that benefit both people
and the ecosystems on which they depend.