Nature based solutions (NBS) are actions that involve people working with nature, as part of nature, to address societal challenges, providing benefits for both human well-being & biodiversity.
There are opportunities to implement NBS for climate change on all levels and sectors including local, state, national, international, and private. These opportunities include urban NBS, conservation, international cooperation, and market based approaches. Conserving and restoring Australia’s natural ecosystems provides ecosystem services which are essential for mitigation, adaption, and resilience. At the same time urban NBS can help reduce emissions in densely populated areas while providing many other co-benefits.
In this policy dialogue, experts working in climate change organisations, state government, and local government related organisations discuss what nature based solutions for climate change are and how they can be adopted on various levels.
Speakers:
Dr. Stuart Blanch - Senior Manager of Land Clearing and Restoration at WWF-Australia. Stuart has extensive knowledge and experience in environmental conservation and restoration. Along with his current role, Stuart is also a Director of the Forest Stewardship Council of Australia. He has a PhD in aquatic plant ecology from the University of Adelaide and a Masters in Environmental Law from the University of Sydney.
Liam Walsh is the System Lead, Food Land & Oceans at ClimateWorks Australia. Liam has a diverse background in the global food system including the UN. He is currently leading ClimateWorks efforts to reduce emissions within the Food, Land & Ocean system across Australia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific..
Steve Gawler is the Regional Manager at ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability) Oceania. As a part of his role at ICLEI, Steve also manages their Cities with Nature Program. Urban NBS is a large part of the program as they seek to tackle urban environmental and social issues with nature.