Federal government prioritizes ‘nature-based solutions’ with climate roadmap

In the fight against climate change, nature is an invaluable ally. Its ability to push back against human-created problems is substantial. In a recently announced step at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Egypt, the Biden-Harris Administration will prioritize nature-based solutions in efforts to meet the nation’s climate goals.

“Fewer wildfires, more tolerable temperatures, more resilient infrastructure, and safer places to live are all hallmarks of a climate-stable future. Achieving this future is the challenge of our generation, a challenge that requires all of America’s strength, knowledge, and ingenuity to confront. But, one powerful source of solutions has been largely overlooked: nature,” reads the introduction to a newly unveiled initiative, “Opportunities to Accelerate Nature-Based Solutions: A Roadmap for Climate Progress, Thriving Nature, Equity, & Prosperity.” The initiative was unveiled by John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President for Clean Energy Innovation and Implementation, and chair of President Biden’s National Climate Task Force.

In practice, implementing nature-based solutions could look like the “protection or conservation of natural areas, reforestation, restoration of marshes or other habitats, or sustainable management of farms, fisheries, or forests.”

At the local and county level, these collective actions can increase a community’s resilience to flooding and extreme heat, and more broadly, they can slow climate change by capturing and storing carbon. The roadmap says it’s important to pair nature solutions as a means to draw carbon from the atmosphere with clean energy systems.

Beyond the environmental impact, “Nature-based solutions play a critical role in the economy, national security, human health, equity,” the statement says. In support of the action, the Leveraging funds made available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, the federal government is making available more than $25 billion in infrastructure and climate funding to be used to support nature-based solutions. Of that, around $8.7 billion will support nature-based solutions and other approaches to build climate resilience into transportation systems, the White House brief says. Another $8.6 billion will restore and conserve coastal habitats. 

A notable reason for the increased focus is that, while nature-based solutions are a new focus because they’re effective—protecting rainforests and restoring coastal marshes are a “fundamental pillar” in the fight against climate change, the statement says—they’re also economically efficient “and compatible with existing technology.” A newly created technical working group will help federal agencies know when nature-based are the best option via a cost-benefit analysis.

The creation of a working group is notable because, historically, implementing nature-based solutions has been held back by a lack of education, a limited federal and local workforce, inadequate funding, and regulatory hurdles, among other things. The roadmap seeks to clear the way for broader implementation at all levels.

“Few know that nature-based solutions can help address common problems, like coastal flooding or urban heat islands. Far too often, current policies and regulations create unintended hurdles for using these options,” the roadmap reads. “Some communities find funds for nature-based solutions insufficient and difficult to navigate. The workforce to design and build nature-based solutions lags in many regions, and is nonexistent in others. Technical challenges can make investors hesitate or delay permitting. These challenges can—and must—be overcome.”