Nature Positive: Guidelines for the Transition in Cities | WEF

Cities must adopt nature-positive strategies to mitigate climate risks and ensure biodiversity recovery.

Urban areas generate 80% of the world’s GDP but are also responsible for significant environmental degradation. By 2030, biodiversity loss could disrupt $31 trillion in global GDP, making it imperative for cities to act. The nature-positive transition encourages cities to not only minimize harm to ecosystems but to actively restore and regenerate natural environments. This approach is aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, aiming to halt biodiversity loss by 2030.

Cities can become nature-positive by committing to concrete, science-based targets that protect ecosystems while enhancing urban resilience. This requires collaboration across government departments and sectors, including real estate, mobility, and commerce, to integrate biodiversity goals with existing climate strategies. Nature-based solutions like urban greening, pocket forests, and flood protection can also reduce climate risks and improve quality of life in cities.

Moreover, cities need to develop a nature strategy that complements their climate goals. These strategies should include clear objectives, data-driven planning, and partnerships with private and public sectors. They also need to ensure the allocation of resources and financing to support green infrastructure and biodiversity efforts.

By fostering public-private cooperation and engaging local stakeholders, cities can drive transformative changes, making them hubs of sustainable development where both people and nature can thrive together.

Read the full document here: https://bit.ly/3Nu7ARQ.