Advancing nature-based approaches to address the biodiversity and climate emergency

Abstract

Biodiversity loss and climate change are often considered as intertwined issues. However, they do not receive equal attention. Even in the context of nature-based climate solutions, which consider ecosystems to be crucial to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change, the potential role of biodiversity has received little attention. Here this essay emphasizes biodiversity as the cause-not only the consequence-to help society and nature face challenges associated with the changing climate. Reconsidering and emphasizing the linkages between these twin environmental crises is urgently needed to make collective efforts for the environment truly effective.

Keywords: Biodiversity-ecosystem functioning; biodiversity loss; climate change adaptation; climate change mitigation; decade on ecosystem restoration; economic values; ecosystem services; environmental policy; nature-based solutions; sustainability.