The Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Manifesto
Developed for the UN Climate Action Summit 20191
14th August 2019
Climate is changing rapidly, undermining the security of current and future generations. Climate change andbiodiversity collapse mean that our world is facing a double crisis. The threat to all countries is increasing and there isan urgent need to scale-up response efforts.
Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) are a fundamental part of action for climate and biodiversity. Authoritative research2
indicates that NBS can provide over one-third of the cost-effective climate mitigation needed between now and 2030
to stabilize warming to below 2 °C, achieving nature’s mitigation potential of 10-12 gigatons of CO2 per year 3 .
Adequate investment in NBS will help reduce financial consequences of climate change, and contribute to the creationof new jobs, to livelihood resilience and to reducing people’s poverty. NBS underpin the Sustainable Development
Goals: they support vital ecosystem services, biodiversity, access to fresh water, improved livelihoods, healthy dietsand food security from sustainable food systems.
NBS are an essential component of the overall global effort to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement on ClimateChange. They are a vital complement to decarbonisation, reducing climate change risks and establishing climateresilient societies. They value harmony between people and nature, as well as ecological development and represent
a holistic, people-centred response to climate change. They are effective, long-term, cost-efficient and globallyscalable.
NBS are already being delivered, are visible and credible, and can be exponentially scaled-up if they are fully valued
and receive proper investment. Action is needed now to ensure that they achieve their full potential. At present NBS
only receive a small share of climate finance. Success depends on maximizing nature’s contribution to climate action,with intensified NBS from now onwards. Indeed, there are many examples of best practices and many emerging
initiatives are ready for extension and intensification.
To unlock nature’s full potential in climate action, world leaders should do all within their power to ensure thatnature’s transformative potential is fully valued and realized in decision-making especially in relation to climate action.
This includes governance processes that are designed to stop the destruction of nature and the damage caused byinvestments or incentives that contribute to environmental harm.
There is a need to recognize that NBS have an enormous potential which can be effectively realized throughinternational and regional cooperation among States and with the participation and inclusion of all stakeholders,including youth, women, indigenous peoples and local communities.
Those who support the NBS Manifesto in the September 2019 Climate Action Summit acknowledge the important roleof nature in climate action and commit to unlocking its full potential of nature through a range of actions.

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NBS for Climate Coalition co-leads China and New Zealand: nbs@mee.gov.cn; CCD@mfat.govt.nz;
Facilitation team UNEP, CBD, 4SD nbs@4sd.info)
https://www.pnas.org/content/114/44/11645
https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/22070/EGR_2017.pdf

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The following four areas are priorities for the members of the NBS coalition at the Summit:
1) Increasing and mainstreaming NBS within national governance, climate action and climate policy-related
instruments, including Nationally Determined Contributions, Adaptation Communications, long-term low
greenhouse gas emission development strategies, spatial planning, national development plans, businessplans;

2) Enhancing regional and international co-operation, in ways that encourage ambition, transparency andenvironmental integrity and are supported by popular mobilization and campaigns, by forming synergies withregional and international development cooperation agendas and initiatives that help deliver on SDGs; thisincludes encouraging the establishment of a Group of Friends for NBS (GOF4NBS) following the September
2019 Climate Action Summit;
3) Generating the shifts needed in both domestic and international governance and finance to value nature andrealize the potential of NBS; ensuring that financial mechanisms are supported with appropriate regulations
that are enforced at the national and sub-national levels including promotion and adoption of green supply
chains; avoidance of funding for deforestation and other activities that harm ecosystems; increased public andprivate funding for NBS investment; promoting green finance and innovative incentive measures to promote
NBS;4) Scaling-up NBS for mitigation, resilience and adaptation in key areas, ensuring people’s livelihoods in the faceof climate threats, including a) the conservation and restoration of forest and other terrestrial ecosystems, b)
the conservation and restoration of freshwater resources as well as marine and ocean ecosystems, c)sustainable agriculture and food systems; and d) ensuring nature’s systemic role in sustainable developmentin ways that end the loss of biodiversity and optimize nature’s contribution to resilient livelihoods, green
infrastructure, sustainable settlements and just rural transitions.
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: reconnecting people and nature to implement the Paris
Agreement effectively and secure a sustainable future for all – both now and for generations to come.

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