Healthy ecosystems provide valuable services such as food, clean water, protection from disease, and flood and erosion control, while at the same time building resilience against climate change impacts. This has been recognized by the UNFCCC in decision 1/CP.16 inviting Parties to enhance action on adaptation by “building resilience of socio-ecological systems, including through economic diversification and sustainable management of natural resources”.
This policy brief makes the scientific and economic case for mainstreaming Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) into national policymaking. It is aimed at national governments that are considering investing in EbA as an effective means of building community and ecosystem resilience at national and regional scales, with the aim of reducing vulnerability to climate change impacts.
