Nature Is Our Greatest Climate Ally. Why Aren't We Using It? | Opinion

In August, a massive avalanche in the Himalayas unleashed a torrent of water, rock, and sediment, sweeping through villages along Nepal's Trishuli River at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour. Over 1,500 people died, and another 5,600 remain missing. This tragedy highlights the dangers of a warming world and the need to invest in protections before disasters strike.

At COP31, world leaders must prioritize protecting people from increasingly dangerous climate hazards. Countries agreed to triple financing to help communities prepare for and withstand climate impacts by 2035, but there are challenges in using nature as a powerful defense against climate impacts. Nature-based solutions, such as mangrove forests, wetlands, and forests, can provide significant benefits, including protecting communities from storm surges, floodwaters, and regulating water supplies.

For example, Florida's mangroves prevented $1.5 billion in flood damage during Hurricane Irma and helped protect over half a million people, while coastal forests prevented $4.1 billion in property damage during Hurricane Ian. Nature-based disaster risk reduction projects in Haiti, India, Indonesia, and Uganda also found economic benefits that exceeded implementation costs within five to 10 years.

However, institutional, financial, and political obstacles hinder the wider adoption of nature-based adaptation. Governments often operate with separate budgets and priorities for different sectors, making it difficult for nature-based solutions to receive adequate attention. Funding for nature-based adaptation projects is often short-term, and its benefits can take longer to realize.

Additionally, the economic value of nature-based solutions is frequently underestimated in investment assessments. To overcome these barriers, governments should integrate nature-based solutions into development, infrastructure, and disaster preparedness strategies, assign clear responsibilities across ministries, consider the full economic value of healthy ecosystems, provide longer-term funding and access to financing, and involve Indigenous peoples and local communities in designing and directing these efforts.

By working together, countries can better protect communities from future climate impacts, as nature is already doing its part.