Nature based Solutions; A catalyst for achieving benefits for people, Nature and climate
The twin climate and biodiversity crises are posing a much greater threat now than ever; evident enough by exponentially increasing rates of species loss and extinction, progressive rise in global temperatures, melting of highland glaciers, rising levels of water levels; both inland and coastal waters. These serve as an awakening call to immediate action in a bid to save the planet from much more and yet unforeseen future disasters. Climate change in particular presents a more and pertinent pressing issue threatening global health economic and production systems; thereby adversely Impacting the quality of life.
According to the IUCN in 2019, Nature-based Solutions (NbS) have been identified to be able to contribute to over 30% of cost-effective CO2 global mitigation targets by 2030. The World Economic Forum (WEF) also does pinpoint and highlight that NbS has the utter potential unlock $10 trillion of business opportunities and create 395 million jobs by 2030. This implies that the overall potential of Nature based Solutions sways beyond just tackling the climate and biodiversity crises, but also contributes significantly to the well-being of societies and communities all-round the globe and as well fostering and enhancing the resilience of natural systems; preventing flooding of coastal and inland waters, absorption of flood waters among others.
A recent report released by the IPCC indicates the human-driven climate crisis is now right intense and under way. The earth is likely hotter now than it has been at any moment since the beginning of the last Ice Age, 125,000 years ago, with the world warming 1.1 degrees Celsius, or nearly 2 degrees Fahrenheit, since the onset of the Industrial Revolution; an “unprecedented” and “rapid” change with no parallel in the Common Era (The Atlantic). The need to take action is now more of a priority so as to save the fate of the earth from any forms of Natural disasters.
Nature based Solutions take into account grounded action, backed by indigenous knowledge and land rights, accompanied by science. Governments, NGOs and civil society actors need to get together to address the pressing issues associated with the realities of climate change leaving no one behind.
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