Demand for nature-based solutions to climate change has increased exponentially in line with recognition that they could provide around 30% of the mitigation required to stabilise global warming to below 2oC (Seddon et al 2019). The concept of nature-based solutions has now been mainstreamed by policy makers from the UN to the EC and in July 2020 the IUCN published the first global standard for nature-based solutions to further increase take-up.
However, as cities and regions all over the world demand more nature-based solutions, a new challenge has emerged. Recent reports have shown that cities are having problems finding skilled and experienced suppliers to meet the burgeoning demand (UnaLab 2020). To address this roadblock Connecting Nature has been pioneering a new field of research into the capacity of nature-based enterprises to meet this demand. Nature-based enterprises from landscape architects to ecosystem restoration experts play a vital role in helping cities, regions and companies in the private sector design, deliver, manage and monitor nature-based solutions.
To support the development of this new sustainable economic sector, Connecting Nature has developed a new global platform which directly connects market demand (cities and private sector ‘buyers’ of nature-based solutions) with supply (innovative enterprises supplying sustainable nature-based solutions).
This new platform will be launched by John Bell, the Director of the EC’s Healthy Planet, and Hazel Chu, Lord Mayor of Dublin, strategy as part of a webinar event on the nature-based economy on 21st October 2020.
Mayors, environment agencies, economic developers and of course businesses will join the discussion in this webinar on the role of nature-based enterprises in contributing to the sustainable, net-zero emissions economy of 2050.
The Connecting Nature Enterprise Platform is open to everyone. We encourage you to visit the website and get involved: