Nature-based solutions (NbS) to improve climate resilience have been rediscovered and universally promoted and identified as essential moving forward on climate action, as in the UNFCCC’s 2020 annual report. ADB has been supporting NbS and green capital development in various countries.

The seminar provided basics on NbS as green infrastructure to improve resilience to urban flooding, heat waves, dry periods, and desertification. Professor Herbert Dreiseitl presented principles and international cases with lessons, supplemented by cases from the PRC’s Sponge City program and guidelines promoting NbS nationwide to increase stormwater retention, infiltrate or reuse captured water resources, reduce urban runoff and increase the flow capacity of rivers reducing flood risk. John Matthews delivered a life report from Glasgow on the global climate policy related to NbS.

The seminar contributed to providing needed evidence to overcome reservation and inertia challenges still prioritizing gray over green infrastructure by leaders, engineers, and contractors.