Posted on June, 16 2020

Our world faces major challenges. The negative impacts that arise from biodiversity loss and climate change are felt by nature and people across the globe. The number of natural disasters increases, pandemics rise, extreme weather conditions intensify, and wildlife and other species are in decline.

Unsustainable agriculture, mining and generation of energy, lead to deforestation, pollution and overexploitation of natural resources.

Healthy nature and ecosystems are key for human wellbeing and development. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been set up to counter the challenges we face. Yet, as the World Economic Forum points out there is a US$ 2,5 trillion investment gap per year, as only US$1,4 trillion of the required US$3,9 trillion is invested each year to reach the SDGs by 2030.

For preserving and restoring ecosystems alone, the required investment is estimated between US$300 billion to US$400 billion, whereas, only US$52 billion is being invested in such projects. With money only from governments and philanthropy we will never be able to fill this funding gap.

Building conservation and nature-based solutions into projects represents a massive opportunity. We need to work with companies, financial institutions and local stakeholders to develop Bankable Nature Solutions (BNS). This way, we can deliver impacts that reduce pressure on ecosystems, drive resilience and sustainability for both people and nature, while generating positive financial returns for communities and investors.

That’s why WWF is working under the umbrella of BNS to set up bankable projects across a wide array of landscapes. Part of this work is done through Mobilising More for Climate (MoMo4C) and the Dutch Fund for Climate and Development (DFCD) partnerships programs. Through these collaborations, we can be instrumental in getting BNS underway and to serve as a catalyst for other bankable projects around the world.

This publication - Bankable Nature Solutions: Blueprints from across the globe to adapt to and mitigate climate change and help our living planet to thrive - serves an introduction to Bankable Nature Solutions and presents 13 case studies that offer different solutions that generate a financial return and have a positive impact on nature and climate. The case studies cover water & sanitation, forestry, climate-smart agriculture, environmental protection and renewable energy in Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America.

The publication is meant to demonstrate what bankable projects are and how WWF through the Bankable Nature Solutions division can work across different landscapes to overcome various challenges.

It aspires to show global landscape practitioners, investors and investees that Bankable Nature Solutions can be a promising solution, helping to upscale projects and to achieve more impact.