Boston, similar to Vancouver, is embracing “green infrastructure” through initiatives like rain gardens. These efforts aim to manage rainwater, conserve sewer capacity, filter pollutants, and mitigate flooding. The city’s Office of Green Infrastructure is transforming roadside grass strips—both at the edges and in the center—into bioswales, a type of “green infrastructure.”
Read the story here:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/what-on-earth-boston-green-infrastructure-1.7565303
Participation of citizens in NBS projects leads to innovation in design and quality, as well as people gaining greater benefits from green and blue spaces (for access, recreation and health and wellbeing), researchers found. However, the research [also] found that encouraging participation by residents and others, and experimentation may not necessarily lead to desired outcomes where there are also strong external (top-down) policy drivers (e.g. housing development pressures).
Read more here: https://www.miragenews.com/community-led-nature-solutions-boost-innovation-1468703/
Economic growth doesn’t have to come at a cost to the environment. We need to implement NbS now. We have no time. We have messed up the entire planetary systems and our survival, including the economy, is totally dependent on the functioning of Earth’s systems. We have no Planet B. If we as human society want to survive, we urgently need to do something about it. NbS is one way of doing so…
Read the article here: https://sciencex.com/wire-news/506334361/working-with-nature-not-against-it-how-our-economies-can-grow-wi.html
A comprehensive investigation, published in the Journal of Environmental Management in December 2024, illustrated the evolutionary trend and development status of constructed wetland coupled with microbial fuel cells. The paper discussed constructed wetland as an engineered ecosystem designed to replicate natural wetlands, utilising aquatic plants and microorganisms to filter contaminants from wastewater. By incorporating a microbial fuel cell into this system, the technology enhanced wastewater treatment while simultaneously generating clean energy.
Read the article here: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/water/how-this-nature-based-solution-can-generate-clean-energy-while-purifying-wastewater
Integrating natural assets – such as wetlands, rivers, forests, and coastal dunes – into financial reporting can help Canadian local governments demonstrate effective management of the financially valuable services these assets provide to communities. The purpose of this guide, developed for the Standards Council of Canada, is to help governments include natural asset disclosures in their financial reports, building on existing relevant international and national guidance and standards.
Read the Guide here: https://www.intactcentreclimateadaptation.ca/getting-nature-into-financial-reporting/
“In recent years, however, there has been growing recognition of the need for alternative approaches that integrate environmental sustainability and natural ecosystem services into coastal management. Green shorelines—nature-based solutions that harness the power of ecosystems such as mangroves, seagrasses, and coastal wetlands—have emerged as a promising strategy for both coastal protection and biodiversity conservation. These solutions not only protect shorelines from erosion and flooding but also enhance ecosystem resilience, support local economies, and foster long-term environmental sustainability.”
Read the article here: https://thebftonline.com/2025/02/26/green-shorelines-innovative-solutions-for-coastal-protection-and-biodiversity-conservation/
This highlights the importance of wetland restoration as a nature-based climate solution, which could potentially offset significant amounts of greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4), which are key contributors to climate change. Recent research has highlighted the impact of human activities and climate change on peatlands, emphasizing the need for effective management and restoration strategies to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and preserve these important carbon sinks.
Read the rest here: https://www.nature.com/research-intelligence/peatland-ecosystems-and-climate-change
Catastrophic floods across Europe have caused death and destruction in recent months, including in Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland and Romania in September and the Spanish region of Valencia in October, where they claimed more than 220 lives.
Experts say floods like these could have been less disastrous if the region counted on more nature-based solutions such as floodable parks or green roofs to absorb and slow down the large masses of water. “Instead of fighting nature, we need to start working with it,” said Iñaki Alday, dean of the Tulane School of Architecture in New Orleans.
Read the rest of this article here: https://time.com/7202917/cities-nature-based-solutions-floods/
Advancing Climate Equity – Practice Guide for Advancing Climate Equity in Coastal Climate Change Adaptation. https://shiftcollaborative.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/PracticeGuide_ClimateEquity_Final_09_16.pdf
Nature-based solutions, including wetlands and other biodiverse natural systems, can play an important role in ensuring climate resiliance. Most governments, including here in Canada, are looking to options to mitigate the effects of climate change through regulations or funding new technologies. To this end, nature-based solutions (NbS) offer the most promising path forward. Read more here.