Key Takeaways:
This dialogue focused on nature-based infrastructure solutions (NbIS) and their crucial role
in addressing global challenges. NbIS, which includes green and blue infrastructure, uses
natural systems to provide essential services like flood control, water purification, and
climate adaptation. These solutions offer numerous social, environmental, and economic
advantages.
Nature-based infrastructure solutions (NbIS) refer to practices that concurrently protect and
provide infrastructure, adapt to climate change, promote environmental integrity and
biodiversity, and provide social wellbeing. If widely adopted, they can play a crucial role in
strengthening resilience. Widespread adoption of NbIS can lead to long-term impact and
systemic resilience, tackling biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation, while also
providing co-benefits and a low carbon footprint. The dialogue explored the implementation
of NbIS, sharing lessons and real-world examples, building upon a biannual report which
outlined the concept of NbIS and identified the challenges and opportunities for its
application to infrastructure.
The increasing complexity of the world, driven by climate change, results in nature and
habitat loss which reduces our ability to cope with climate change. This is further
complicated by urbanisation and changing geopolitics. A choice exists between continuing
with incremental changes or transforming systems by making NbIS the default option in all
projects. This transformation involves using a hierarchy of green and blended approaches
and leveraging AI and digital analytics.
NbIS offers multiple benefits. It is estimated that NbIS cost, on average, only 51 percent of
grey infrastructure projects and that 11 percent of all grey infrastructure could be replaced
by NbIS Bassi et al, 2021 cited in CDRI Biennial Report, 20231) These include regulating
water flow, capturing carbon, water retention and restoration, healthy soil systems, improved
food production, cleaner air and water, increased habitats and biodiversity, job creation,
recreation, tourism, and improved health and well-being. Nature is considered the best
engineer.