Nature-Based Solutions: How to Tackle the Climate Crisis

To the climate change They are already among us. Longer droughts, intense rainfall, heat waves, and extreme events have become part of our reality. In light of this, the climate agenda needs to advance on two simultaneous fronts: emissions mitigation and adaptation of societies to new environmental conditions.

It is in this dual challenge that the Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) They stand out as one of the most effective, accessible, and strategic solutions available to governments, businesses, and communities.

What are snature-based solutions (NbS) 

Nature-based solutions are initiatives inspired and supported by nature that generate environmental, social and economic benefits simultaneously. 

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which coined the concept, these are “actions to protect, sustainably manage and restore natural and modified ecosystems, which address social challenges effectively and adaptively, promoting human well-being and benefits for biodiversity”. 

In practice, the SbN they create a chain of positive impacts: Protected, restored, and managed ecosystems provide essential environmental services, such as water purification, climate regulation, and protection against natural disasters. 

Why are nature-based solutions (NbS) essential for the climate?

The Paris Agreement commits to keeping global warming below 2°C and to pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5°C. This target is not merely symbolic: it is a dividing line between a still manageable future and a scenario of systemic collapse. Above this limit, the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as severe droughts, floods and heat waves, increase significantly, and the risk of collapse of entire ecosystems becomes more concrete. 

In this context, the Nature-Based Solutions emerge as one of the most effective and affordable ways to help the world meet the Agreement's goals. The latest report IPCC pointed out that interventions such as reducing the destruction of forests and other ecosystems, your large-scale restoration and the improvement of productive land management are among the five most efficient strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.  

Furthermore, a UNEP report, published shortly before COP26, reinforced that the SbN not only do they have the potential to reduce global warming, but also of reposition our economies on a sustainable path, integrating economic prosperity, social inclusion and environmental balance. 

It is important to recognize that the impacts of the climate crisis do not belong to a distant future: they are already happening. In Brazil, the National Institute of Meteorology (Inmet) shows that, over the past sixty years, there has been a significant increase in average temperatures and heavy rainfall. In the city of São Paulo, for example, the occurrence of storms with volumes above 80 mm jumped from 3 days per year (between 1961 and 1970) to 9 days per year (between 1971 and 1990), reaching 16 days per year between 1991 and 2020. These data highlight that the urban climate is becoming increasingly hostile and unpredictable, directly impacting people's lives. 

The science is also clear on another point: OClimate impacts are already more severe and widespread than previously anticipatedThis means that worsening in the short term is inevitable. Therefore, the climate agenda needs to move forward two simultaneous fronts: the mitigation of greenhouse gases and the adaptation of societies to new environmental conditions. 

Implement SbN in a way systemic and integrated – in urban, rural, and coastal areas – is essential to reducing exposure to climate change-related disasters. But it doesn't stop there: in addition to protecting lives, they also generate economic, social and cultural benefits, strengthening the resilience of local communities and creating opportunities for innovative and sustainable business models. 

Benefits of nature-based climate solutions 

To the nature-based solutions are a strategic investment, because they offer multiple returns: they reduce climate risks, generate social benefits, and even boost economic competitiveness. Here are some benefits: 

• Mitigation: it is estimated that SbN can contribute about 30% of mitigation global needed by 2030/2050 for the world to reach the goal of keeping temperature rise between 1.5 and 2°C, as stipulated by the Paris Agreement. This means that without nature, it will be impossible to meet the global commitment; 

• Adaptation: by strengthening ecosystems, SbN increase the resilience of human communities in the face of climate risks such as floods, prolonged droughts, rising sea levels and more frequent and intense wildfires; 

• Reduction of greenhouse gases: nature-based solutions have the potential to remove or prevent at least 5 gigatons of CO₂ equivalent per year by 2030 – which can reach 11.7 GtCO₂e, depending on the degree of implementation; 

• Economic benefitIn addition to environmental benefits, studies indicate that the large-scale adoption of SbN it can represent a savings of up to US$1.4 billion in costs by 2050, reducing the intensity of climate risks by around 26%; 

• Multiplicity of social benefits: SbN : NBS also strengthen food security, generate income for local communities, increase leisure areas in cities and contribute to people's physical and mental health. 

Examples of nature-based climate solutions 

To the SbN materialize in different contexts and show how nature can be an ally in facing complex challenges. 

• Green roofs: In addition to helping control flooding and reduce pressure on drainage systems, they regulate building temperatures and reduce the need for air conditioning. This is especially important given the forecast that the number of refrigeration units will nearly triple by 2050. 

• Linear parks: Green corridors built along rivers, streams, and streets help with natural drainage, reduce flooding, and expand recreational areas. By restoring floodplains and riverbanks, they reconnect the city with its natural geography. 

• Restoration of native vegetation on hills: Restoring vegetation on slopes and hilltops is crucial to containing erosion and landslides, protecting lives and infrastructure. 

• Restoration of coastal vegetation: Ecosystems such as mangroves, coral reefs, and sandbanks act as natural barriers against storms and rising seas, protecting coastal communities. Mangroves, in particular, sequester up to five times more carbon than terrestrial forests. 

• Ecological corridors: connect vegetation fragments, allowing wildlife to flow and increasing biodiversity resilience. They also contribute to drainage and urban thermal comfort; 

• Regenerative agriculture: applies principles of natural ecosystems to restore soil health and increase agricultural resilience, using practices such as crop rotation, agroforestry, and no-till farming to conserve water and soil, reduce erosion, and sequester carbon

Nature-Based Companies and Solutions: Risks and Opportunities 

To the Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) represent an innovative way for the private sector to address climate risks, generate long-term value and position itself sustainably before increasingly demanding consumers, investors and regulators. 

The World Economic Forum has already warned: half of the world's GDP depends directly on nature and the services it provides—such as pollination, climate regulation, water supply, and soil stability. This means that ecosystem degradation is not just an environmental problem: it's also a economic and business risk. 

More than 350 global companies have already made commitments to reverse biodiversity loss and restore natural systems, according to the GreenBizThis movement shows that SbN are no longer a differentiator but are becoming a competitive standard. 

Risks for companies that ignore NBS 

• Supply chain disruptions: extreme weather events directly impact agricultural production, transportation and logistics; 

• Market loss: Consumers and investors are increasingly aware of environmental practices. Companies that fail to adapt risk losing relevance and competitiveness; 

• Rising costs: Regulatory changes and global climate policies may impose tariffs, fines, and restrictions on companies that do not integrate sustainability into their operations. 

Opportunities for those who adopt NBS 

• Long-term resilience: By investing in forest restoration, sustainable water management, or regenerative agriculture, companies strengthen entire value chains, ensuring supply and reducing operational risks; 

• Innovation and market differentiation: NBS can be incorporated as an ESG strategy, generating new products, services and narratives that win over conscious consumers; 

• Cost reduction: Natural solutions for drainage, urban cooling or coastal protection can be more economical and effective than large-scale gray infrastructure projects. 

To reap these benefits, companies need to look beyond their own walls. Internal eco-efficiency strategies—such as reducing emissions, reusing water, and adopting clean energy—are important, but they are no longer sufficient. The vulnerability of neighboring communities or strategic territories can directly affect business continuity. 

Therefore, leading companies are already positioning themselves as active actors in the regeneration of nature, Investing in them is not only about meeting climate goals, but also about ensuring the viability of their markets in the future. SbN It is, at the same time, an ethical imperative and a strategic decision. 

Sitawi’s role in advancing Nature-Based Solutions  

At Sitawi Finanças do Bem, we believe that nature should be at the center of economic decisions. That's why we structured financial mechanisms that accelerate the flow of capital for positive socio-environmental impact, supporting governments, companies, investors and civil society organizations. 

In the context of nature-based solutions, Sitawi offers specialized services such as:  

• Financial architecture projects aimed at biodiversity conservation and climate adaptation;  

• Creation and management of conservation funds to protect natural areas and restore strategic biomes such as the Amazon, the Cerrado and the Atlantic Forest;  

• Structuring payment mechanisms for environmental services (PES), which value nature’s contribution to human well-being and generate income for local communities;  

• Management of philanthropic funds aimed at environmental protection and tackling climate change; 

• Structuring Territorial Programs to support companies in creating shared value in the territories where they operate, reconciling economic growth, nature protection and income generation for the local population. 

Our work is based on a conviction: nature is vital infrastructure for the economy and for life. By supporting companies, governments, and organizations in structuring projects with SbN, We implement solutions that combine environmental preservation, economic prosperity, and social well-being, always with a focus on... shared value and measurable impact.

Frequently Asked Questions about Nature-Based Solutions