What are Nature-Positive Cities?
More than just the next Greenwashing cycle? Let's stay positive.
You’ve heard of “Net Zero”.
You’ve certainly heard of “Carbon Neutral”.
Now get ready for the latest climate buzz term:
“Nature-Positive”.
And more specifically: “Nature-Positive Cities”.
What does nature-positive even mean?
“No one knows what it means, but it’s provocative… it gets the people going!”
(Kanye West & Jay-Z - Niggas in Paris, 2011)
One definition:
“Halt and reverse nature loss by 2030 on a 2020 baseline, and achieve full recovery by 2050.”
Put simple:
“Let’s make sure there’s more nature in the world by 2030 than there was in 2020. And even more after that.”
The goal is not to simply halt the decline of nature, but to reverse it and expand nature’s reach.
Source: naturepositive.org
The background
In September 2023, 27 of the world’s largest nature conservation organizations, businesses and financial actors launched the Nature Positive Initiative.
It advocates for the high-level implementation of a Global Goal for Nature to support the 2023 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, a landmark UN agreement signed by 188 countries.
The NPI argues that a global goal similarly to the Paris Agreement for emissions is needed for nature.
In 2021, the World Economic Forum, the Government of Colombia and the Alexander von Humboldt Institute launched the BiodiverCities by 2030 Initiative.
A year later, the initiative published an Insight Report in which it demonstrated the economic opportunities of nature-positive interventions and investments and urged cities to address their relationship with nature.
The Nature-Positive Cities Initiative builds on this work. It provides guidance on the implementation of nature-based interventions and supports lighthouse projects that can be scaled and replicated arround the world.
So far, five cities have committed to advance a nature-positive vision through increased public-private collaboration:
Barranquilla, Colombia
Belem do Pará, Brazil
Durban, South Africa
Incheon, South Korea
San Francisco, USA
Since, after all, “money makes the world go round”, defining the financial dimension of biodiversity loss seems only logical. Globally, nature-related risks are estimated at 58 trillion dollars!
Why cities?
By 2050, around 70% of the world’s population will live in urban areas.
44% of global GDP (around 31 trillion dollars) in cities is at risk due to nature loss.
We need a comprehensive approach:
assess impacts and dependencies
commit to science-based targets
transform operations and value chains
advocate for ambitious policies
disclose actions through public reporting
These efforts should be aligned with the recommendations of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD).
What are the benefits of nature-positive cities?
It’s pretty simple:
Allow nature to come back - and it will give back.
The potential benefits for nature-positive cities are numerous:
improved air quality
decreased pollution
enhanced biodiversity
reduction in the urban heat island effect
more green spaces
greater physical and mental well-being
greater resilience
increase in value
attracting businesses, investments, people
Nature-based strategies could supply 37% of the mitigation required to limit the temperature rise below 2 degrees by 2030.
According to the World Bank, every dollar invested in more resilient infrastructure translates into a return of around 4 dollars. Pretty decent deal, right?
However, investment in nature-based strategies is currently disproportionately low. In 2020, nature-based solutions (NbS) received just 0.3% of overall spending on urban infrastructure, and investments are unequally distributed across and within cities.
The WEF has published a neat video on the topic (No, I am NOT a reptilian!):
Source: www.weforum.org
Which concrete measures need to be taken?
According to the initiatives working on nature-positivity, we need a threefold approach:
1. Systems Approach to Urban Governance: We need to recognize the value of natural ecosystems and make them an integral part of our urban planning and design.
2. Reintegration of Nature into Spatial Planning Decisions: We need to reconstruct pre-existing habitats, restore degraded land, and embed nature in new and upgraded infrastructure.
3. Making Nature an Attractive Investment to Financial Markets: Standardized biodiversity data could help derisk investments in nature-positive projects.
Achieving the nature-positive goals will require close collaboration between government, businesses, and civil society. Cities will have to share their experiences, successes, and learnings with others.
They need to pool knowledge, promote lighthouse projects and share best practices, ensuring progress on a global scale.
According to Arup, there are four decisive principles:
Principle 1: Do Not Harm and Let Nature Be.
Principle 2: Heal Nature.
Principle 3: Increase Nature.
Principle 4: Let Nature Help: Implement nature-based solutions.
How can we achieve nature-positive cities?
Success will depend on three factors:
a long-term vision that transcends political election cycles
Adequate incentives and financial instruments
Transparent track records and measurable performance metrics
Obstacles and dangers along the road
While all those goals and principles sound nice and reasonable, reality is a different animal.
It will be a challenging task to strike a balance between environmental preservation and urban development.
Our rate of urban expansion is unsustainable. On the global level, the equivalent surface area of São Paolo is built every week!
There is also a huge discrepancy in climate and nature targets:
While 83% of Fortune Global 500 companies have climate change targets, only 5% have assessed their impacts on nature. Even more concerning is that less than 1% understand their dependencies on nature.
Another cycle of Greenwashing incoming?
As with every new sustainability term, there is the danger of misuse.
The term "Nature Positive'' should only be used in the context of clear, time-bound, and measurable goals. Any progress should be measured against science-based targets to secure genuine nature-positive outcomes.
Just look at the catastrophic reputation of “carbon neutral” claims. Bad-faith actors have misused the term so blatantly that public trust has fallen to almost zero. The EU even bans any carbon-neutral claims unless the companies can prove their validity.
We need genuine commitment, clear goals, measurable progress and transparency in actions. Sustainability must not be reduced to a marketing strategy.
As environmental reporting regulations tighten, companies should act now. Otherwise they will risk compliance issues, fines, and legal challenges.
At the same time, consumer and investment demands are also shifting towards sustainability. Complacent companies risk losing market share in the future.
Examples for nature-positive developments in cities
Some of the core elements of nature-positive cities will include:
Integration of renewable energy
Green roofs, facades and vertical gardens
Restoration of urban wetlands
modernizing urban drainage systems
designing permeable surfaces
Planting trees
Extending parks and forests
Community gardens and allotments
According to the WEF and the International Institute for Sustainable Development, nature-based infrastructure is roughly 51% cheaper compared to built alternatives, while providing multiple benefits for urban communities and nature.
For these reasons, we can call them “no-regret solutions.”
Conclusion: The era of nature-positive cities has begun
The idea of nature-positive cities shows that reducing emissions is not enough - we also need to protect and restore nature within our communities.
The decline of nature can destabilize society.
By embracing concrete measures, overcoming challenges, and avoiding greenwashing pitfalls, cities can pave the way for a sustainable, resilient, and harmonious future. A future where urban life and nature thrive in tandem.
“A global goal for nature aiming at achieving a net positive outcome by 2030 is crucial to secure a nature-positive future for humanity within our planetary boundaries.”
Professor Johan Rockstrom, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
Let’s get to work.
And don’t forget:
Positive Good vibes only!😎
TRANSITION TRACKER
News and developments concerning the Green Transition. In no particular order of importance.
The world’s cities are not ready for climate change.
According to the Deloitte 2023 CxO Sustainability Report, 84% of Leaders agree/strongly agree the world can achieve global economic growth while also reaching climate change goals. Well, if you say so…
The role of Climate in the 2024 EU elections will be significant.
China’s green tech industrial policy gives Beijing an interest in forcing others to decarbonise more.
Solving the global North-South divide will be key to make climate progress.
How to make sure wind farms produce electricity during cold snaps.
Energy is having its “Aha” moment.
The Chinese dominance in the solar industry and the intricacies of international energy politics.
The Climate Change and Energy Transition 2023 Scorecard provides a neat overview on last year’s most important figures. Shockingly surprising spoiler: They don’t look good.
Tackling climate change requires the protection of human rights.
The Corporate Knight list of the world’s 100 most sustainable corporations is out.
The challenges for global Climate Adaptation in 2024.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"So my point is let's get to bringing resources, taking them from where they hurt to putting them where they help."
International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva urged countries to shift around $7 trillion in direct and indirect annual subsidies for fossil fuels to finance climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts.
That’s a wrap.
See you next week.
Lennard
PS: How did you like this week’s edition of Terreminder? Let me know! And if you enjoyed the read, please support it by sharing it with others. Thank you.