Beyond Carbon: Nature as Climate Infrastructure

The global response to climate change is undergoing a fundamental transition. For decades, climate strategies have largely emphasized technological innovation, renewable energy deployment, and industrial decarbonization. While these interventions remain indispensable, the accelerating degradation of ecosystems has highlighted an equally important reality: nature itself is one of the most powerful systems for regulating the climate, supporting biodiversity, and strengthening human resilience. This recognition has positioned Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) as a critical component of the global sustainability agenda. (IPCC, 2022; IPCC Factsheet)

In India, this shift is increasingly moving from concept to implementation. Recent research has focused on how Nature-Based Solutions can be systematically embedded within climate-resilient urban planning rather than implemented as isolated ecological interventions. In 2025, the Centre for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP) developed an NbS feasibility framework for urban coastal regions, examining how interventions can be prioritised against climate risks such as flooding, heatwaves, and storms. More recent research has also highlighted that the long-term effectiveness of coastal NbS depends not only on ecological outcomes, but on implementation quality, governance and their ability to respond to multiple climate hazards.

Nature-Based Solutions represent a shift from managing environmental challenges independently toward understanding ecosystems as interconnected systems that deliver climate, ecological and socio-economic benefits. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN, 2016) defines NbS as actions that protect, sustainably manage and restore natural or modified ecosystems while effectively addressing societal challenges and benefiting biodiversity and human well-being. The Global Standard for Nature sets out eight criteria, including net biodiversity gain, economic feasibility, and inclusive governance, that projects must meet to be considered high-quality NbS. Unlike conventional conservation models, NbS extend beyond preservation by actively integrating ecosystem functions into solutions for climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, food security and sustainable development (IUCN, 2025).

From Carbon Sinks to Climate Resilience

The increasing relevance of NbS emerges from the recognition that climate change and biodiversity loss are not separate crises. Forest degradation, wetland destruction, soil depletion and marine ecosystem decline weaken the planet’s natural ability to regulate carbon cycles and withstand environmental disturbances. Restoring these ecosystems therefore provides an opportunity to address both climate mitigation and ecological resilience simultaneously. (IPBES, 2021)

Natural ecosystems have historically served as essential carbon sinks. Forests capture atmospheric carbon through biomass accumulation, soils store large quantities of organic carbon, and coastal ecosystems such as mangroves and salt marshes retain carbon-rich sediments for extended periods (IPCC, Climate Change & Land). Protecting and restoring these systems can contribute meaningfully to global climate objectives by reducing emissions associated with ecosystem degradation and increasing carbon sequestration capacity. Globally, natural climate solutions are estimated to provide up to 37% of the cost-effective mitigation needed through 2030 to hold warming below 2°C (Griscom et al., 2017, PNAS).

However, the role of NbS in climate mitigation requires careful interpretation. Scientific studies emphasize that nature-based interventions cannot compensate for delayed reductions in fossil fuel emissions or industrial greenhouse gas outputs (Ellis et al., 2024). Instead, NbS must operate alongside rapid decarbonization strategies as part of an integrated climate response (Nature Communications Earth & Environment, 2024). This aligns with the IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report (2022), which cautions that land-based carbon removal cannot substitute for deep, rapid cuts in fossil fuel emissions. Overdependence on ecosystem-based carbon removal without addressing emission sources risks reducing the credibility of climate commitments. (SBTi V2.0)

The effectiveness of NbS depends significantly on ecological quality. Restoration initiatives focused exclusively on carbon outcomes may unintentionally overlook biodiversity and ecosystem health (IUCN, ENACT Goals). For example, large-scale monoculture plantations may accumulate carbon but provide limited habitat diversity, reduced ecological resilience and fewer long-term ecosystem services compared with native ecosystem restoration. This is precisely the risk the IUCN Global Standard's biodiversity-related criteria are designed to prevent and has been observed in practice in critiques of large-scale compensatory afforestation programmes in India. A successful NbS approach therefore requires balancing carbon benefits with biodiversity enhancement, ecosystem functionality and social outcomes (Cohen-Shacham et al., 2019)

Beyond mitigation, one of the strongest contributions of NbS lies in climate adaptation. Increasing climate extremes, including floods, droughts, heatwaves and coastal hazards, require solutions capable of protecting communities while strengthening environmental systems. Healthy ecosystems naturally regulate many of these risks. Wetlands absorb excess water and reduce flood intensity, mangroves protect against storm surges, forests stabilize landscapes, and urban green spaces reduce heat stress. Globally, mangroves alone are estimated to prevent over USD 65 billion in property damage and reduce flood risk for more than 15 million people annually (Menéndez et al. 2020).

The advantage of NbS compared with conventional infrastructure is their ability to generate multiple benefits simultaneously. A restored watershed may improve water availability, increase biodiversity, reduce erosion, support livelihoods, and enhance carbon storage. This multifunctionality makes NbS particularly valuable for countries facing overlapping environmental and developmental challenges. (UNEP)

Scaling Nature-Based Solutions: India, Business and Finance

India represents a significant opportunity landscape for scaling Nature-Based Solutions due to its ecological diversity and climate vulnerability (MoEFCC). From Himalayan ecosystems and river basins to coastal regions and agricultural landscapes, ecosystem-based interventions can contribute to climate adaptation while supporting community resilience. Approaches such as agroforestry, wetland restoration, mangrove conservation and sustainable land management have the potential to strengthen climate security while generating socio-economic benefits (PwC India, 2025). Flagship examples include MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes, launched June 2023, targeting ~540 sq km of mangrove restoration across 9 states/3 UTs) (MoEFCC, 2025 - MISHTI); the Green Credit Programme (2023); National Mission for a Green India; and India's NDC commitment to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5-3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by 2030 (MoEFCC - Green Credit Report).

The private sector is also increasingly recognizing NbS as part of broader sustainability and net-zero strategies. Organizations are moving beyond traditional carbon-reduction approaches to understand natural capital dependencies and biodiversity-related risks (WEF, 2020). Investment in ecosystem restoration, sustainable supply chains and landscape conservation is emerging as a pathway for companies to align climate commitments with nature-positive development. This shift is underpinned by growing evidence that USD 44 trillion of economic value generation, over half of global GDP, is moderately or highly dependent on nature (WEF, Nature Risk Rising, 2020), and is increasingly operationalised through frameworks such as the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and the Science Based Targets Network (SBTN).

Climate finance mechanisms are expected to play an important role in accelerating NbS implementation. Article 6 of the Paris Agreement provides opportunities for international cooperation through carbon markets, potentially increasing financial support for high-quality ecosystem restoration projects (The Nature Conservancy, 2025). Article 6.4 mechanism's standards and methodologies were operationalised at COP29 in Baku, marking a concrete step toward implementation. Well-designed carbon markets can direct resources toward conservation and restoration activities that may otherwise face financial limitations (The Nature Conservancy, 2025).

Building Integrity into Nature-Based Solutions

Integrating NbS into carbon markets also presents challenges. Ensuring environmental integrity requires robust methods for measuring carbon benefits, demonstrating additionality, preventing leakage, and ensuring long-term permanence. Without strong governance systems, poorly designed projects may generate questionable climate benefits or create unintended impacts on local communities.

The future of Nature-Based Solutions will depend on moving beyond viewing ecosystems only as carbon assets. Nature provides complex services that cannot be fully represented through carbon metrics alone. Biodiversity protection, water regulation, cultural values, livelihood support and ecosystem resilience must remain central indicators of success. This reflects the priorities of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (adopted at CBD COP15, December 2022), particularly Target 3's commitment to protect 30% of land and sea by 2030. As the climate crisis intensifies, the question is no longer whether nature should contribute to climate solutions, but how these solutions can be implemented responsibly and on scale. Nature-Based Solutions offer a pathway that recognizes ecological systems as essential infrastructure for a sustainable future. When supported by science, inclusive governance, and credible financing mechanisms, NbS can help transform climate action from reducing environmental harm toward actively restoring the systems that sustain life.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views, policies, or positions of the organisation.