Many of the world’s vital natural ecosystems, and the communities reliant on them, are vulnerable to climate change. But there is increasing recognition that ecosystems — if sustainably restored and protected — can also form a strong line of defence against the direct impacts of climate change and support human adaptation over the long term. As the evidence base grows, ecosystems are increasingly prominent in climate change policy, especially in developing nations. Yet intentions rarely translate into robust and informed measurable targets, undermining action. As signatories to the Paris Agreement revise their Nationally Determined Contributions for 2020, we argue that nature-based solutions are a key tool for meeting global goals on climate change and sustainable development. We urge national policymakers to work with scientists to identify meaningful targets that benefit both people and the ecosystems on which they depend.
