Nature Based Solutions to Climate Change
When it comes to climate change, we are constantly thinking of ways to tackle it. Nature based solutions to climate change are actions that are designed to work with nature to help with the impacts of climate change. This can be things like using ecosystems to absorb carbon dioxide, or sustainable management. This article is going to look deeper at these natural solutions, the benefits of them and what we can do to help.
The situation of natural disasters globally
Some major trends of natural disasters globally are being seen more and more often. 2025 has seen some huge, notable natural disasters that are only predicted to get worse.
Extreme weather events have doubled in frequency and intensity over the last five years, showing how climate change is driving this. This also has an economic impact, as insured losses from natural catastrophes are projected to increase as more damage is caused. Floods, fires, storms and droughts are rapidly increasing in frequency, with thousands killed. So how can nature-based solutions help with climate resilience, to reduce these alarming and fatal results of climate change?
What are the Benefits of Nature-Based Solutions
Nature-based climate solutions have a wealth of benefits when it comes to tackling climate change, and in fact play a key role in climate resilience. They help to tap into ecosystems including grasslands, coasts and wetlands to mitigate and adapt to climate change, and provide economic and environmental benefits too, such as:
Biodiversity Protection
This is where ecosystems are conserved or restored to protect endangered species and support pollinators, soil health and pest control.
Climate Adaptation
Planting things like mangroves and having reef buffers against storms helps to reduce the risk of disasters- these are nature-based solutions that also contribute to temperature regulation to reduce heatwave risks and water management.
Human Health
Natural filtration is a nature-based climate change solution which creates clean air and water and reduces exposure to heat and air pollution. The addition of green spaces into urban areas also helps to encourage getting outdoors and improving the general wellbeing of the human population.
Projects
Some notable nature-based climate change solution projects include:
Trillion Trees Initiative
Led by the WWF, BirdLife International and the Wildlife Conservation Society, this is a project to protect and restore 1 trillion trees across the globe by 2050, with a focus on reforestation to contribute to carbon capture and protect biodiversity.
Rewilding Europe
This project is designed to allow natural processes, such as water and wildlife movement, to restore degraded landscapes. The benefits include restoration to the forest and grassland to absorb carbon, and reduced wildfire risks as the ecosystems are more balanced.
World Bank Projects
There are lots of World Bank projects that support nature-based climate solutions, including things like the rehabilitation of Sri Lankan wetland in 2022. This led to a nationwide effort to protect the ecosystems and endangered species on the island.
A 2020 project in Mozambique protected 50,000 people from flooding, helping with urban resilience.
Climate change is a very real and very serious problem that is only getting worse and worse. Nature-based solutions to the effects of climate change are becoming increasingly more popular as we try to tackle the devastating impacts whilst also having benefits to other areas too. There are lots of global projects that aim to tackle climate change with natural solutions like reforestation and biodiversity protection, and they all need as much support as they can get from us as humans and as travelers of the globe.
Would you like to know more about eco-friendly travel?
To receive inspiration direct to your email inbox, please click here and subscribe to the Ecotourism World newsletter!
