Nature Based Solutions: An Opportunity to be Explored

Agenda | Background Note | Event Summary | Presentation

Technological solutions for mitigating and adapting climate change are expensive and are difficult for developing and poor countries to implement. Nature based Solutions (NbS) are cost effective, sustainable and long-term solutions to mitigate and adapt climate change. Placing Nature-based Solutions at the centre of India’s economic planning can go a long way in helping build back a more resilient and healthy economy after the COVID-19 pandemic fallout in the country. Further, agro-forestry if managed in a climate smart manner then has a potential of achieving 2/3rd proportion of India’s forestry sector NDC targets. They can also improve community resilience and enhance mitigation through e.g. carbon sequestration and reduced mineral fertilizer needs as recommends the National adaptation strategies (NAS) and plans (NAP). Thus, there is a need to understand the sectoral NbS approaches, with a special focus on agro-forestry sector, cost effectiveness of these solutions and the policy paradigm to undertake bold actions to conserve, restore and sustainably manage nature for climate mitigation and adaptation as well as achieve the SDGs.

The 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), to be held from 1–12 November 2021 in Glasgow will aim to mobilize the action on mitigation, adaptation, and resilience, and strengthen the narrative for better alignment with sustainable development goals. TERI is preparing a COP26 Charter of Actions which will assimilate questions and challenges posed by keys sectors in India. The Charter will also propose probable and sector specific options which can advance climate action and ambition in the country.

With the above background, a stakeholder roundtable will be organized with the following objectives.

1. Engage with stakeholders and experts on nature based solutions to solicit feedback for the COP26 Charter of Actions.
2. Solicit inputs from stakeholders and experts on aspects related to implications for the international community, equity, actions by 2030, and actions by 2050.