Study #18

Figure: IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions.

What can we learn from science? - NbS Standards

Since we know what Nature-based Solutions (NbS) do from the previous posts, let's take a step back and look at the origin. In 2020, scientists and practitioners from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) came together in Gland, Switzerland, to answer a big question: how can nature help solve the world’s biggest crises - and how do we know it’s done right? They established the first global standard for Nature-based Solutions (NbS) - a practical framework to design, verify, and scale solutions that work *with* nature, not against it.
For decades, nature sat on the sidelines of development. But the evidence is now overwhelming: protecting and restoring ecosystems isn’t a “nice to have” - it’s essential. The IUCN shows that NbS could deliver around 30% of the cost-effective climate mitigation needed by 2030 to keep warming below 2°C.
To make sure NbS are credible and impactful, the Standard lays out 8 clear criteria and 28 indicators, covering everything from biodiversity gains to economic viability and inclusive governance. When applied well, NbS don’t just fight climate change - they boost food security, reduce disaster risks, and improve human well-being.

Nature already has solutions. Now we have a global standard to scale them. For more details, stay tuned for the course opening.

International Union for Conservation of Nature. (2020). *Global standard for nature-based solutions: A user-friendly framework for the verification, design and scaling up of NbS* (1st ed.). IUCN.
https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.CH.2020.08.en