Download Pioneering nature-based solutions for cities

Pioneering
nature-based
nature
based solutions for cities
Chantal van Ham
EU Programme Officer
IUCN - International Union for Conservation of Nature
International Union for Conservation of Nature
About IUCN
International Union for Conservation of Nature
International Union for Conservation
of Nature
• Oldest and largest
g
g
global environmental
organization
• Helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our
most pressing environmental and developmental
challenges such as climate change, sustainable
d
development
l
and
d food
f d security
i
• A network of more than 1,200
,
member
organizations (including 200+ government and
900+ NGOs), and almost 11,000 voluntary
scientists and experts in 160 countries
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Three focus areas:
1 Valuing and Conserving Nature
1.
2 Effective and Equitable Governance
2.
of Nature’s Resources
3. Deploying Nature-Based Solutions
to Global Challenges in Climate
Climate,
Food and Development
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Cooperation with cities and regions
• Cities and regions are essential for
implementing environmental policies and
for protecting, conserving and enhancing
natural capital
• Investing in nature: enhances quality of
life, saves money, strengthens the local
economyy and reduces the impacts
p
of
climate change
• IUCN mobilizes the expertise of its
network
t
k to
t help
h l cities,
iti
l
local
l and
d regional
i
l
authorities develop natural solutions for
the challenges they are facing
International Union for Conservation of Nature
IUCN and nature-based solutions
• IUCN pioneered nature-based solutions (NBS) at the UN
climate negotiations
• NBS play a vital role in mitigating and
adapting to climate change
change, securing
water, food and energy supplies,
reducing poverty and driving economic
growth
• IUCN works with governments, the
private sector and communities to put
science and knowledge into practice restoring forests, rivers and wetlands,
and
db
bringing
i i our oceans b
back
k tto lif
life
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Examples of Nature Based Solutions
and their Benefits
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Climate Change
• Cost if the European Commission does not act upon
climate change
g = €190 billion p
per year
y
• Rising temperatures: increase in disaster frequency
and impact.
Cost to European coastal areas: approximately € 42
billion, damage to agricultural areas: € 18 billion
• E
Expected
pected impact of dro
drought
ght on
California, one of the most
productive agricultural areas in
the US : €2,2 billion and 17,000
jobs lost this year
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Mayesbrook Park, London
• Partnership of public and private
organizations
• Challenges addressed: Climate
change - flooding, higher temperatures
• Biodiversity/community
Bi di
it /
it benefits:
b
fit
New floodplain to store floodwater,
enhanced habitats, cultural services
• Cost effective: More than €1 million
gross annual benefit delivered by
ecosystem services
Lifetime benefit-to-cost ratio 7:1
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Conservation trust fund for the
provision of drinking water
• 8-million residents of Bogota
g
obtain water from Chingaza and
Sumapaz national parks
• Creation
C ti off ttrustt fund
f d to
t attract
tt t
voluntary contributions from
Bogotá's water treatment facilities
to subsidize conservation projects
• Benefits for people and nature:
Water treatment facilities in
Bogotá could save $4 million per
year by investing in watershed
protection
International Union for Conservation of Nature
‘Building with Nature’
• Flood Prevention in the Netherlands: 100m strip of willows
can reduce the size of one metre-high
g waves byy 80% and
offer an alternative to traditional dikes
• ‘Green shield’ saves construction and maintenance costs
and offers additional benefits:
- Protecting inhabitants at high tide
- Improvements to landscape
aesthetics
- Creation of reservoir for the storage
g
of CO2
- Trimmed willow shoots can be
used as biofuel
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Global Peatland Restoration
• Peatlands provide vital natural
services
• Act as ‘carbon sinks’: occupy only
3% of the world
world’s
s land area,
area yet
hold over 30% of the global
carbon store
• Damaged peatlands lose ability to
remove CO2, start to release it
back into the atmosphere,
atmosphere thereby
accelerating climate change
• Restoration of peatlands: effective
climate change mitigation strategy
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Strengthening action
IImprove the
h knowledge
k
l d base:
b
E h
Enhance
the
h
evidence base, awareness raising and capacity building,
training and information exchange are essential
Improve dialogue between scientific community and city
representatives
Recognize prosperity in nature: Nature's benefits are
currently not making it to the balance sheet
Quantify map and assess ecosystem services at local and
Quantify,
regional level
Tailor communication strategies
g
to different stakeholder
groups
Funding not only for the initial design and development, but
also for continued maintenance and improvements
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Thank you !
In the end we will conserve only what we love.
We will love only what we understand
understand.
We will understand only what we are taught.
- Baba Dioum
International Union for Conservation of Nature