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Although many governments, financial institutions, and corporations are embracing nature-based solutions as part of their sustainability and net-zero carbon strategies, some nations, Indigenous peoples, local community groups, and grassroots organizations have rejected this term. This pushback is fueled by (i) critical uncertainties about when, where, how, and for whom nature-based solutions are effective and (ii) controversies surrounding their misuse in greenwashing, violations of human rights, and threats to biodiversity. To clarify how the scientific community can help address these issues, I provide an overview of recent research on the benefits and limits of nature-based solutions, including how they compare with technological approaches, and highlight critical areas for future research.

Original publication

DOI

10.1126/science.abn9668

Type

Journal article

Journal

Science

Publication Date

24/06/2022

Volume

376

Pages

1410 - 1416

Keywords

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Human Rights, Humans, Indigenous Peoples, Organizations, Sustainable Development