A-DVICE

International goals and agreements

The Nordic countries have committed to a variety of international goals and obligations on climate change, biological diversity, and other matters that touch upon NBS, and where NBS will be of use in implementing said commitments. The two largest agreements that the Nordic countries have committed to are the Paris Agreement (2015) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) (2022) under the Convention on Biological Diversity.
The Paris Agreement
sets long-term goals to guide all nations to:
  1. Substantially reduce global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to hold global temperature increase to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, recognizing that this would significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change,
  2. Periodically assess the collective progress towards achieving the purpose of this agreement and its long-term goals, and
  3. Provide financing to developing countries to mitigate climate change, strengthen resilience and enhance abilities to adapt to climate impacts.
As part of the Paris Agreement, all countries are required to submit their nationally determined contributions (NDC), where they outline and communicate their climate actions and how they plan to cut emissions. The Nordic countries have submitted their NDCs, together with the European Union, committing to cutting their net GHG emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. Great effort is needed to achieve this goal, and NBS are one of the methods that can be used to do so.
NBS, such as conservation and restoration of ecosystems like forests and wetlands, reforestation, sustainable land management, and blue-green infrastructure, can contribute significantly to both mitigation, reducing emissions, and adaptation, increasing resilience to climate impacts. The integration of NBS into policy on climate, and in other policy areas, is a way to enhance the overall effectiveness and sustainability of climate action, enabling governments to work towards their goals for the Paris Agreement.
Although NBS were not directly named in the Paris Agreement, at the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference or Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC (COP27), NBS were mentioned for the first time in a decision from the UNFCCC. The decision “Encourages Parties to consider, as appropriate, nature-based solutions or ecosystem-based approaches, taking into consideration United Nations Environment Assembly resolution 5/5, for their mitigation and adaptation action while ensuring relevant social and environmental safeguards”.
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
sets out an ambitious plan to implement broad-based action to bring about a transformation in our societies’ relationship with biodiversity by 2030, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals, and ensure that, by 2050, the shared vision of living in harmony with nature is fulfilled. Among the Framework’s key elements are four detailed goals for 2050 and 23 targets for 2030.
NBS are one of the key tools in working towards the goals set forth in the GBF. In fact, two of the targets set forth for 2030 directly call for the use of NBS:
Through nature-based solutions, such as conservation and restoration of ecosystems, sustainable land management, promotion of green infrastructure, and more, the Nordic countries can work towards their commitment to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Other agreements that the Nordic countries have committed to that NBS could be used to achieve are for example: The Ramsar Convention, the 30x30 conservation efforts, the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Program, the Bonn Challenge, United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement, and the Berne Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats. As the goals of these agreements align with the Paris Agreement and the GBF in many ways, more details of their goals will not be provided here.
When it comes to the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
, NBS are also relevant. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all UN member states, provides a blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet. At its heart are the 17 SDGs, a call to action to create a more just and resilient world. NBS can play a significant role in achieving the SDGs by providing a holistic, integrated approach to sustainable development, addressing environmental, economic, and social dimensions simultaneously. Although the SDGs do not explicitly mention NBS, the approach aligns with the goals of e.g., enhancing ecosystem services, promoting biodiversity, climate resilience, and sustainable management of natural resources, which are key targets under various SDGs.

European instruments

The European Union (EU) has, since the mid-2010’s aimed to be at the global forefront of NBS research and innovation and has been putting NBS on the agenda of key policies. NBS have therefore been embedded in several policies within the EU, especially in the context of the European Green Deal. Other key policies are the Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, and the EU Adaptation Strategy.
These policies apply to all EU member states, including Denmark, Finland, and Sweden. As members of the European Economic Area (EEA), Iceland and Norway are also affected by these policies to some extent.
The EU Biodiversity Strategy focuses on the interaction between people and nature. The policy directly calls for the use of NBS to help protect biodiversity and ecosystems. It also mentions that NBS can be an essential tool in reducing emissions and in climate adaptation. One of the key commitments of the strategy is to:
“Unlock at least €20 billion a year for nature and ensure that a significant proportion of the 30% of the EU budget dedicated to climate action is invested in biodiversity and nature-based solutions.”
It also emphasises the importance of ensuring that financial systems align with biodiversity objectives, to enhance governance frameworks to be able to address biodiversity loss, and to enable nature to flourish within cities and on agricultural land. The Nordic countries can therefore work towards the EU Biodiversity Strategy by using NBS.
A key element of the Biodiversity Strategy is the Nature Restoration Law, which entered into force in August 2024. The regulation sets an overarching goal for the long-term restoration of nature across the EU's land and sea areas, alongside binding targets to restore specific habitats and species. These efforts aim to cover at least 20% of the EU’s terrestrial and marine areas by 2030, with the ultimate objective of restoring all ecosystems in need by 2050. EU countries are expected to submit National Restoration Plans to the European Commission within two years of the Regulation coming into force, by mid-2026, showing how they will deliver on the targets. They will also be required to monitor and report on their progress.
The EU Adaptation Strategy puts forth a long-term vision for the EU to become a climate-resilient society by 2050. The policy highlights three cross-cutting priorities to incorporate into policy across all levels and fields to integrate adaptation. NBS are one of these priorities, along with micro-fiscal policy and local adaptation actions. Overall, the policy calls for smarter and faster adaptation to climate change. Through NBS, such as sustainable land management, conservation and restoration of ecosystems, and the promotion of green infrastructure, the Nordic countries can work towards the goals of the EU Adaptation Strategy.
The EU has presented various other policies where NBS is a key tool. By using NBS, a variety of objectives in different fields can be targeted simultaneously, such as the restoration of ecosystems, disaster risk-reduction, carbon capturing, as well as for raising awareness and building skills in the community. EU policies where NBS are supported include: the Green Infrastructure strategy, the Action plan on the Sendai Framework, the Floods Directive, Bioeconomy Strategy, Forest Strategy, LULUCF (land use, land use change and forestry) Regulation, Water Framework Directive, Urban Agenda, Farm-to Fork Strategy and the Common Agricultural Policy.
A detailed analysis of the integration of NBS for climate adaptation in the European Union was carried out for the European Chair for Sustainable Development and Climate Transition in May 2023, where further information about NBS in the EU can be found. Moreover, Network Nature has conducted a policy screening and analysis of needs and gaps until 2030.

Nordic Ministerial Declaration on nature-based solutions

The Nordic Council of Ministers have committed to upscale and mainstream nature-based solutions in the region. This was emphasised in the Nordic Ministerial declaration on nature-based solutions which was approved by the Nordic Ministers for the Environment and Climate in Helsinki on November 2nd, 2022.
With their declaration, the ministers recognised the interconnectedness of climate and nature, emphasizing that nature-based solutions address the nature- and climate crises and simultaneously contribute to human welfare, health, and food security. Further, they recognised the significant potential of NBS for both climate mitigation and adaptation and committed to actively promoting the full potential of NBS, while safeguarding social and environmental standards.
The ministers committed to upscale and mainstream NBS across terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems in the Nordic Region, positioning NBS as a viable and beneficial alternative to technological solutions or to be integrated into these, to promote more robust, comprehensive and cost-effective actions.

References

De los Casares, V. and Ringel, M. (2023). Nature-based Solutions for climate change adaptation in the European Union: Part I, European Chair for Sustainable Development and Climate Transition, Working Paper Series. https://www.sciencespo.fr/psia/chair-sustainable-development/2023/05/23/nature-based-solutions-for-climate-adaptation-in-the-european-union-part-i-mapping-eu-and-national-initiatives/
EEA – European Environment Agency. (2021). Nature-based solutions in Europe: Policy, knowledge and practice for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. EEA Report No 1/2021. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union. doi: 10.2800/919315. https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/nature-based-solutions-in-europe
Faivre, N., Fritz, M., Freitas, T., De Boissezon, B., & Vandewoestijne, S. (2017). Nature-Based Solutions in the EU: Innovating with nature to address social, economic and environmental challenges. Environmental Research, 159, 509–518. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2017.08.032
IEEP, ICLEI, IUCN, UNEP-WCMC, Biodiversa+ (2024). NetworkNature Naturebased Solutions policy screening and analysis of needs and gaps for 2024- 2030 with 6 priority policy themes. EU HORIZON-CL6-2022-BIODIV-01, Project ID 101082213. https://networknature.eu/sites/default/files/uploads/iclei-networknature-ieep-report-v06-final-web.pdf