Growing positive change – NbS Conference 2024 insights, report and recordings
Tuesday 22 Oct 2024
We are living in a time of immense urgency, as the interconnected crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and social injustice call for transformative action. Achieving this systemic change requires more than just data and policy—it demands a shift in values, relationships, and the integration of diverse worldviews and knowledge systems.
The Nature-based Solutions Conference 2024 brought together a wide range of voices, including Indigenous scholars, interdisciplinary researchers, public and private sector practitioners, as well as musicians and artists. Over the course of three days, we combined science, traditional knowledge, music, and art to discuss and co-create an action plan for nature-based solutions that can drive positive social and environmental change.
Key high-level insights from across conference included:
- Centring NbS on justice and equity
A major takeaway was the need for transformative NbS that prioritise justice and equity. Addressing global inequalities and ensuring that NbS initiatives are led by, or in close partnership with, Indigenous Peoples and local communities is critical to their success. These groups’ knowledge, leadership, and perspectives were highlighted as central to delivering effective and enduring solutions. - Embracing complexity to support resilience
The conference emphasised the importance of embracing complexity. NbS should work within complex systems, integrating ecological, social, and cultural dimensions to build resilience. Learning by doing, with adaptive frameworks that evolve based on real-world outcomes, was seen as essential for scaling NbS effectively in a rapidly changing world. - New governance models grounded in local knowledge
An important insight was the need for governance models that move away from traditional top-down approaches. Local and Indigenous-led governance was seen as essential to successful NbS. These models not only provide the leadership required for ecological projects but also offer new ways of addressing social challenges, demonstrating how local knowledge can guide solutions on a broader scale. - Reframing the economy within biosphere limits
The conference proposed a shift in how we think about the economy, advocating for framing economic activity within the limits of the biosphere. This approach challenges the traditional sustainable development model and prioritises long-term ecological health over endless growth. NbS were presented as a pathway to a transformed economy, one that is in service of the web of life and focused on supporting the flourishing of ecosystems and communities alike. - Collective responsibility and democratic renewal
A key theme was the importance of collective action and responsibility in achieving better social and ecological outcomes. Discussions called for democratic renewal through mechanisms like citizens’ assemblies to ensure that decision-making processes are inclusive and representative. Empowering people to participate in shaping policies and ensuring governments act on public demand for NbS are crucial for creating long-term change. - Transforming finance for long-term sustainability
Another critical insight was the need to redesign financial systems to support long-term ecological and social resilience. Discussions highlighted the urgent need to move financial resources away from harmful subsidies and practices that degrade ecosystems, toward nature-positive investments. Creating robust regulatory frameworks and aligning financial systems to prioritise long-term ecological health were recognised as essential steps to ensuring that NbS deliver sustainable and equitable outcomes for people and the planet. - Expanding the concept of health to include nature
One of the standout insights was the growing recognition of the interconnectedness between human and ecosystem health. Nature-based solutions were presented as vital components of public health strategies, not only for their environmental benefits but also for improving mental and physical health. This points to a future where healthcare systems fully integrate nature-based interventions as part of a holistic approach to well-being. - Reconnecting with nature as a foundation for systemic change
The conference also stressed that reconnecting with nature is essential to achieving systemic change. By deepening connection with the natural world, individuals and societies can reimagine their place within the web of life, cultivating the empathy and care required to restore ecosystems and build a future where humanity and nature thrive as one.
Find much more including key actions and session summaries in our Report:
Watch the recordings on Youtube:
- Theme 1: Scaling Nature-based Solutions with Integrity
- Theme 2: Nature-based Solutions for Health and Wellbeing
- Theme 3: Nature-based Solutions for Adaptation and Humanitarian Crises
- Theme 4: Addressing Uncertainty and Building the Evidence
- Theme 5: Balancing Resilience Concerns around Nature-based Solutions
- Theme 6: Governance, Markets and Finance for Nature
- Theme 7: Remembering Our Profound Interconnectedness with Nature
- Theme 8: The Role of Nature in Redefining our Economic Model
- Theme 9: Restoring Our Relationship with Nature
