ALIGN - Playbook PSA
Playbook Helps Ensure Infrastructure Works for People—And the Planet
Infrastructure is core to sustainable growth and development, underpinning modern society and serving as a key contributor to reducing poverty. There is significant global demand for access to high-quality, safe, and resilient infrastructure to connect people, transport goods, and enhance business services. However, poorly planned and designed infrastructure can significantly contribute to biodiversity loss and global greenhouse gas emissions that accelerate climate change.
WWF, the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC), and AECOM—one of the world's largest consulting engineering firms—developed a strategic guide that provides engineers and conservationists with tools and examples needed to better integrate environmental considerations and sustainability into infrastructure projects. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Asia's Linear Infrastructure safeGuarding Nature (ALIGN) Project is supporting the digital iteration of the Playbook that will include new case studies from Asia.
A Playbook for Nature-Positive Infrastructure Development will help put us on the path to a brighter future for people and the planet.
What is nature-positive infrastructure?
The concept of "nature-positive infrastructure" is still evolving so there is no universally accepted definition. However, this approach is commonly categorized by placing nature and biodiversity at the heart of project design or incorporating substantial ecological restoration and enhancement mechanisms. Building with nature, instead of against it, is a key tenet of nature-positive infrastructure.
It is important to note that nature-positive infrastructure is not limited to providing nature-based solutions, which are the use of natural elements and processes to address environmental issues. Green infrastructure, and a mix of green and grey infrastructure—structures such as dams, roads, and seawalls—could also be designed to be nature-positive.
What are the Playbook’s key findings?
The Playbook aims to help engineering and conservation practitioners better understand the opportunities and constraints associated with nature-positive infrastructure design and is meant to contribute to the important and growing broader dialogue around the concept of nature-positive. Drawn from an analysis of more than 200 projects and supported by a selection of case studies, the Playbook includes a few key findings:
- While nature-positive approaches for infrastructure development may be “high on the agenda,” there are still few examples of implemented projects. We can and should continue to use well-established approaches while also exploring additional, less understood approaches that could have a positive impact on nature.
- There is a limited understanding of the full range of benefits of nature-based solutions. The inability to quantify the benefits, for example, may undermine or limit infrastructure practitioners’ willingness to deliver nature-positive projects.
- And finally, and most importantly, there is a need to more frequently demonstrate the benefits of nature-based solutions. As noted in the Playbook, there is an urgent need to move beyond nature-related commitments and advocacy and firmly place considerations of nature and climate at the forefront of the process of planning, implementing, maintaining, and decommissioning infrastructure.
How can you get involved?
The Playbook is meant to serve as a practical guide to incorporating nature-positive approaches to infrastructure development. We hope the engineering and conservation communities will gain a better appreciation for and understanding of the potential of this approach across a range of sectors and landscapes and feel inspired to explore creative approaches.
By design, the Playbook is meant to be a living document that we will update and enhance over time. We intend to include additional chapters and case studies as new opportunities and techniques are developed. Additionally, a variety of other solutions exist beyond those identified in this Playbook that engineers and other experts could explore to move the infrastructure sector toward being truly nature positive.
Nature-positive infrastructure can—and should—allow nature to flourish and sustain biodiversity. It can also help benefit people by providing millions with electricity, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities and services, and good roads.
Experts, companies, financial institutions, and governments—working with local communities—can change how infrastructure is planned, built, and operated to create sustainable infrastructure worldwide. This can ensure that new projects have a limited impact on nature, maintain and properly manage natural infrastructure, conserve or restore nature, increase resilience, and mitigate climate change.
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Image attribution: © naturepl.com / Jen Guyton / WWF; © Brian J. Skerry / National Geographic Stock / WWF; © Georgina Goodwin / Shoot The Earth / WWF-UK; © Hkun Lat / WWF-Aus