Nature Knows Best: Harnessing Earth’s Own Systems to Cool the Planet
From rich, carbon-storing soils to vast forests and even the humble dung beetle, nature-based solutions are powerful, sustainable allies in the fight against climate change.
In the face of a changing climate, global leaders recently gathered at the COP16 Biodiversity Conference in Cali, Colombia, to discuss ways of protecting the planet’s ecosystems. This conference highlighted the essential role of biodiversity in building climate resilience, emphasizing that nature itself offers some of the best tools to tackle environmental challenges.
From carbon-storing soils to expansive forests and even the surprising contributions of dung beetles, nature-based solutions can powerfully—and sustainably—combat climate change. Here, we’ll explore some of these solutions and show how even small actions can make a big impact.
What Are Nature-Based Solutions?
Nature-based solutions are strategies that work with ecosystems to address environmental, social, and economic challenges. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), these solutions can include anything from restoring forests to regenerating soils, and they offer a sustainable, cost-effective way to reduce carbon emissions and build climate resilience. By supporting biodiversity, these solutions also enhance ecosystem stability, making them an essential part of any strategy to address climate change.
The Benefits of Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience
Nature-based solutions have been found to be surprisingly affordable and effective, especially when compared to high-tech alternatives. By working with natural systems, these solutions stabilize the climate in multiple ways: sequestering carbon, reducing flood risks, and conserving habitats that countless species rely on (The Guardian, 2023). They often harness processes already occurring in nature, meaning they require fewer resources to implement and can sustain their benefits over time.
Additionally, these approaches tend to have positive ripple effects, improving soil health, increasing biodiversity, and enhancing ecosystem resilience. Nature-based solutions therefore represent a powerful, accessible way for communities and individuals alike to contribute to meaningful, sustainable climate action.
Nature-Based Solutions in Action
Nature-based solutions come in many forms, each harnessing natural processes to restore balance and resilience to our ecosystems. Here are a few impactful examples that illustrate how these approaches support biodiversity while helping to stabilize our climate.
Soil Conservation: Soil plays a critical role in storing carbon. As soil biogeochemist and political ecologist Asmeret Asefaw Berhe explains in her TED Talk, soil contains more carbon than all the world’s plants and the atmosphere combined, making it a vital resource for climate stability. Soil restoration, as a nature-based approach, benefits both climate and agriculture: healthy soils store carbon while supporting plant growth (World Bank, 2022).
Dung Beetles’ Ecosystem Role: It may come as a surprise, but dung beetles are unsung heroes in the fight against climate change. By breaking down animal waste and aerating the soil, these beetles not only recycle nutrients but also reduce methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas. Their work supports soil health and enhances biodiversity, demonstrating how even the smallest creatures can contribute to a healthier planet.
Smart Reforestation: Tree planting is one of the most popular nature-based solutions, but to be effective, it must be done with care. Reforestation efforts that focus on planting native species in appropriate ecosystems are more successful in supporting biodiversity and preventing unintended consequences like increased fire risks (IUCN, 2020). Smart reforestation strengthens ecosystems, creating resilient, sustainable forests that store carbon and support local wildlife.
How You Can Support Nature-Based Solutions
Adopting nature-based solutions doesn’t require grand gestures; even small, everyday choices can make a difference. Here are some simple, effective ways you can contribute to nature-focused climate action in your daily life.
Compost and enrich the soil: Composting kitchen scraps not only reduces waste in landfills but also enriches soil, supporting its ability to store carbon. Composting is easy to start at home and provides a steady supply of natural fertilizer.
Choose sustainable products: Opt for products that support sustainable farming and avoid those that contribute to deforestation. Every purchase is a vote for sustainable practices, supporting brands and industries that prioritize the planet.
Plant native plants: If you have space for gardening, consider adding native plants. These plants require less water and maintenance, support local biodiversity, and create a more resilient ecosystem that’s better equipped to handle climate stresses.
Support local conservation efforts: Look for organizations that focus on restoring local habitats, whether through reforestation, wetland conservation, or urban green spaces. Many of these projects rely on community support and often welcome volunteers.
Advocate for green spaces: Encourage community leaders to prioritize the protection of parks, forests, and other green spaces. These areas provide essential climate benefits, from carbon sequestration to flood prevention, and make communities healthier and more resilient.
Looking Forward
The recent COP16 conference in Cali serves as a reminder of the immense potential within nature itself to help us address climate change. Nature-based solutions offer a hopeful and accessible path toward a sustainable future, but they require collective action to be fully realized.
As the conference showed, protecting and restoring biodiversity is a necessary step to building a resilient, livable world for all. By supporting these solutions — whether through individual choices or community advocacy — we can all play a role in shaping a healthier planet.◾
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References
Asmeret Asefaw Berhe. (2019). A climate change solution that’s right under our feet. TED Talk.
International Union for Conservation of Nature. (2020). Nature-based solutions to climate change. Retrieved from IUCN.
The Guardian. (2023). Down to Earth: The path to radically lower emissions tucked away inside the devastating IPCC report. Retrieved from The Guardian.
World Bank. (2022). What you need to know about nature-based solutions to climate change. Retrieved from World Bank.