Publication on NBS in nature-positive economy
High interest in a new publication on NBS in nature-positive economy
Originally featured on Network Nature Digest
By Siobhan McQuaid & Esmee Kooijman, 8th July 2022
At the end of April, the European Commission (EC) Directorate-General for Research & Innovation released an independent expert report “The vital role of nature-based solutions in a nature positive economy”.
The report - that was co-authored by Siobhan McQuaid, Esmee Kooijman, Daniela Rizzi, Thomas Andersson, and Joanne Schanté - has generated considerable interest since its publication. In just ten weeks it already has become the most downloaded resource from the EC’s NBS page.
The report addresses knowledge gaps in the potential economic benefits of NBS and the challenges facing Nature-Based Enterprises (NBE). It profiles some of the economic activities where NBE are engaged in the delivery of NBS – generating new jobs and skills, innovations, and wider economic impacts through a nature-based approach that respects the needs of the environment and communities.
It examines some of the key issues confronting stakeholders: Standards, Measurement & Valuation, Multi-level, cross-sectoral policy frameworks, Investment in NBS, Development of sector-specific supports, Capacity building and awareness. Such challenges are addressed head-on, informing recommendations for relevant stakeholders on how to realise the transition to a nature-positive economy with NBS and NBE at the core.
The report is aimed specifically at economic policy makers but is of high relevance for policy makers across multiple domains, public sector institutions and agencies, researchers, civil society and NGO representatives, investors and financial institutions, industry and NBE delivering NBS.
The key messages of the publication are:
We need a fundamental shift in economic thinking and policy, away from resource intensive business-as-usual approaches and towards new types of economic activity that put nature and people first. These activities can simultaneously achieve conventional economic goals, such as the creation of jobs and wealth.
Large scale investment in nature-based solutions (and nature-based enterprises) has the potential to drive the transition towards a nature positive economy. But as yet it is largely unexplored.
The transition towards a nature-based economy must clearly value communities, culture, and traditions and above all, lead to the restoration of nature and biodiversity.
A link to the report is available here.
Are you interested in exploring the potential of nature-based solutions, nature-based enterprises, and/or the nature positive economy?
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