Nature may be the answer to how countries act on the climate crisis

In 2015, the world came together to sign the Paris Agreement, the first truly global commitment to action on climate. The landmark agreement succeeded where past attempts failed because it allowed each country to set its own emission reduction targets and adopt its own strategies for reaching them. And for the first time, countries were provided the opportunity to include adaptation plans in their Nationally Determined Contributions—the goals of emissions reductions required for signatories of the Paris Agreement.

There are many approaches that governments can take to mitigate their climate emissions and prepare for inevitable change, but sometimes overlooked is the role nature itself can play. Nature-based solutions are ecosystem conservation, management, and restoration projects designed to address a wide range of challenges while also benefiting biodiversity and human well-being. When designed intentionally to tackle the climate crisis, nature-based solutions have emerged as a critical tool for governments in their efforts to both mitigate emissions and adapt to the challenges of a changing climate.

As part of the Paris Agreement, countries are expected to update their commitments this year. To help countries in their efforts to meet the ambitious goals of the agreement, WWF has now developed a new set of eight recommendations for integrating nature-based solutions for climate action into national approaches to meeting their commitments and even moving beyond them.