Latest news with #NbS
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Science
- Hindustan Times
Mainstreaming ecosystem-based adaptation in India
Ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA), recognised for its cost-effective and co-beneficial advantages, is seeing a global uptake. However, the number and scale of EbA projects remain limited compared to the opportunities offered by India's diverse ecosystems and indigenous practices. While lack of funding is a direct cause, the small scale of existing EbA projects also fails to attract funding. Breaking this cycle requires addressing other mechanisms that hinder EbA's growth. This brief explores India's potential and identifies key challenges to scaling up EbA. Ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA), which is part of the broader nature-based solutions (NbS) approach, was defined by the 15th Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Conference of the Parties (COP) in 2009 as 'the use of biodiversity and ecosystem services as part of an overall adaptation strategy to help people adapt to the adverse effects of climate change.' The EbA approach aims to enhance resilience by acknowledging the interconnectedness of ecosystem health and human well-being while integrating traditional adaptation methods. It addresses sustainable development goals, climate adaptation and mitigation needs, human rights and well-being, nature conservation, and biodiversity preservation. These co-benefits contribute to its cost-effectiveness compared to engineering-based solutions. Evidence strongly supports this. An overall analysis of the literature shows that NbS and EbA are more cost-effective than engineering-based solutions while still effectively mitigating hazards. Approximately 65% of the studies, most of them in developing countries, indicate that EbA interventions are more effective overall and in specific scenarios. Multiple cost-benefit analysis methods, such as net present value, internal rate of return, and benefit-cost ratio, have been used to assess EbA's socio-economic value. This scientific support, along with advocacy from international organisations like the Global Adaptation Commission and IPCC AR6 report, has promoted the integration of EbA into National Adaptation Plans. Despite this momentum, EbA's growth in India has been slow, even though India's diverse ecosystems, adaptation needs, and indigenous practices provide a basis for EbA projects. To advance EbA in India, its alignment with the nation's goals and challenges must be further explored. This paper can be accessed here. This paper is authored by Diya Shah, ORF, New Delhi.
Business Wire
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Perennial and rTek Launch Strategic 10-Year Exclusive MMRV Partnership to Regenerate Globally Degraded Grasslands
BOULDER, Colo. & ALMATY, Kazakhstan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--rTek, an Almaty-based precision agriculture start up and nature-based solutions (NbS) carbon credits project developer, has selected Perennial, a global leader in measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verification (MMRV) for environmental assets, as its exclusive soil carbon MMRV provider for the next 10 years to deliver high-integrity carbon credits globally. The first project aims to regenerate 500,000 hectares of degraded grasslands, support sustainable production and livelihoods, and establish quality assurance systems for sustainable grassland management in Kazakhstan. This collaboration aims to regenerate Kazakhstan's soils through sustainable agricultural land management, positioning Kazakhstan as a frontier market in global carbon finance. The partnership will leverage Perennial's expertise with Verra methodologies and core innovative technology - digital soil mapping (DSM) and advanced soil organic carbon (SOC) modeling - with rTek's local expertise in land management, design, and implementation of carbon projects. 'Kazakh farmers and government are excited yet skeptical about soil carbon credits. Now's the time to roll up our sleeves and show how real carbon market funding can kickstart regenerative agriculture. Perennial's super-accurate models, backed by our solid field data, are key to opening up these markets for Kazakhstan's 184 million hectares of rangeland. This partnership sends a strong message to the market: NbS is open for business in Kazakhstan.' — Stuart Bowlin, Managing Partner of rTek Supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), this initiative falls under the Kazakhstan Resilient Agroforestry and Rangeland Project, which promotes sustainable pasture management. The activity 'Support for Access to International Carbon Markets,' aims to demonstrate how carbon trade can serve as a catalyst for attracting private investments. By doing so, it seeks to enhance sustainable pastureland management, develop critical infrastructure, and facilitate access to international carbon markets for long-term financial sustainability. Set to begin baseline modeling in 2025, this initiative will implement advanced MMRV methodologies compliant with Verra's VM0032 standards, enabling accurate soil carbon credit generation and enhancing rTek's capacity to manage and expand grassland restoration. 'There's more carbon stored in soil than in the atmosphere and all vegetation combined—yet we've only just begun to tap into soil's potential as a climate solution. Grasslands, in particular, hold extraordinary promise. They cover nearly half the Earth's land surface and are often overlooked in climate plans, but their ability to store carbon and support rural livelihoods makes them one of our greatest opportunities for impact. With the right financial mechanisms and investment, we can reverse degradation and unlock natural carbon sinks at scale.' — Jack Roswell, CEO of Perennial The rTek–Perennial partnership is a first of its kind 10-year partnership between a Carbon Project Developer and an independent MMRV to tackle regenerating soils at large scale and marks a key milestone in advancing scalable, transparent NbS in emerging markets. Join rTek and Perennial in transforming 500,000+ hectares of Kazakhstan's long-degraded grasslands into a global example for sustainable agriculture and carbon sequestration. We invite investors and carbon credit buyers to partner with us to finance or offtake the highest possible integrity NbS removals carbon credits, driving scalable impact for climate, livelihoods, and NbS. About Perennial Perennial is a full-service MMRV (measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verification) company that delivers certified, outcome-based measurements for any crop and any program—anywhere in the world. Its advanced digital soil mapping technology drastically reduces sampling needs and eliminates geographical limitations, making it the most cost-effective, streamlined, and scalable way to measure, report, and verify emissions reductions, carbon removal, and sustainable outcomes. Based in Boulder, CO, Perennial has raised $25M+ from leaders in climate, tech, ag, and carbon markets; GenZero, Bloomberg LP, Microsoft Climate Innovation Fund, SineWave Ventures, and Augment Ventures. About rTek Founded in 2002 in Almaty, rTek is a leading Kazakhstan-based developer of carbon credits and nature-based solutions (NbS), with projects including KazBeef's sustainable grassland management, Kazakhstan's first biochar project, and Kazakhstan's first Article 6.2 project. Through its Terratune cloud platform built on Google Earth Engine, and innovative AgTech - including UAVs and AI-powered livestock monitoring, rTek delivers actionable insights to farmers, driving profitable and environmentally sound land management. Learn more at and
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Study highlights need for nature-based solutions to prevent climate-related losses in the city
The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) should establish a permanent nature-based solutions advisory board, and ensure that urbanising zones integrate the solutions into long-term urban planning, reducing future risks related to industrial expansion and climate vulnerabilities, according to a recommendation of a study by the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP), a Bengaluru-based think tank. The study titled 'Urban Greenprints-Nature-based Solutions (NbS) Feasibility Framework for Urban Coastal Regions' covered 23 wards of the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), spanning an area of 64.35 for their NbS potential using land-use and land-cover mapping. Key zones for intervention included residential areas, public spaces, transportation corridors, and blue-green infrastructure. Rooftops in residential zones present major opportunities for green infrastructure, with a potential to increase NbS areas in the city by 76%. Chennai and Mangaluru were the cities selected as case studies because of their exposure to flooding, sea level rise, and extreme weather events. Permeable pavements in transport corridors could improve urban drainage, offering a 5% increase in NbS areas for both cities. Additionally, waterbodies in select wards can be fully leveraged for wetland restoration and establishing buffer zones. The study's findings pointed to the need for developing partnerships with real estate developers and industry stakeholders to fund large-scale NbS interventions, particularly in coastal industrial zones. Collaborations among government bodies such as the Park Department of the GCC, the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, and the Tamil Nadu Wetlands Authority and private entities such as Chennai Smart City Limited and Tamil Nadu Green Climate Company can help pool resources for larger-scale NbS projects. The study also stressed the need for coordination with neighbouring cities, such as Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu, to create a regional NbS network, which can help pool resources for larger ecosystem resilience projects and share best practices. Eco-tourism should be promoted around green spaces serving as public parks or restored wetlands such as Pallikaranai, where guided tours can attract visitors and generate income for maintenance. The study recommended pilot projects, such as green rooftops and permeable pavements, in densely populated wards to combat storm-water runoff and mitigate the urban heat island effect. Green corridors connecting parks and open spaces along Old Mahabalipuram Road and East Coast Road, where urban expansion is intense, will be beneficial, it added. The study said cost–benefit analysis for green rooftops and permeable pavements estimated that implementing these measures would cost ₹2,203 crore in Chennai and ₹172.97 crore in Mangaluru. In Chennai, the expected benefit from reduced flood damage and productivity losses is ₹505.31 crore every year. This means the investment would pay for itself in just over four years, the study said. Without any action, Chennai could face climate-related losses of up to ₹10,000 crore over the next 20 years, according to the study.
Hans India
19-05-2025
- General
- Hans India
Mangaluru can cut climate damage with ₹172 crore investment: CSTEP report
Mangaluru: A new report by the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP) has outlined that with an investment of ₹172.97 crore, Mangaluru could avoid ₹11.62 crore in annual damages linked to climate-related risks, including flooding and coastal erosion. The report, titled Urban Greenprints: A Nature-based Solutions Feasibility Framework for Urban Coastal Regions, calls for the integration of nature-based solutions (NbS) into the urban planning of select wards in Mangaluru. CSTEP recommends embedding NbS within planning and budgeting processes instead of treating them as standalone initiatives. The study identifies Panambur, Port, Hoige Bazaar, and Bengre as suitable wards for interventions such as rooftop greening, permeable pavements, and water body restoration. The report also notes that initiatives like the Coastal Bioshield Project at Tannirbhavi and ongoing lake rejuvenation efforts have shown preliminary success but remain limited by top-down governance and lack of community participation. The document advocates for spatial mapping, inclusive governance, and master planning focused on vulnerable zones like Surathkal and Ullal. It proposes that Mangaluru's approach could serve as a model for other coastal cities facing climate stress.
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Business Standard
19-05-2025
- Science
- Business Standard
₹2,203 crore green push can ease Chennai's climate challenges: CSTEP
Chennai, which frequently experiences heavy rains and floods, could save around ₹500 crore in reduced flood damages and co-benefits each year by investing ₹2,203 crore in key nature-based solutions across selected city wards, according to a study by the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP). Nature-based solutions must be embedded in planning, budgeting and policy processes rather than treated as standalone initiatives, said the report titled Urban Greenprints: Leveraging Nature-based Solutions (NbS) to Address Urban Climate Risks. While Chennai is making steady progress through its climate action plans and green initiatives, the study highlights the need for further steps to tackle challenges such as heatwaves and flash floods. The research indicated that in selected wards, implementing green spaces, urban farms, permeable pavements and restored wetlands could significantly improve resilience to urban flooding. These measures would also help mitigate heat stress, reduce pollution and enhance overall liveability. Many proposed ideas are simple and cost-effective. For instance, in North Chennai wards, converting bare concrete rooftops into low-cost, low-maintenance gardens could increase local green cover by over 70 per cent. This would cool some of the city's hottest and most densely populated areas. In addition to reducing temperatures, rooftop gardens can absorb rainwater and provide household produce. Streets can also contribute to climate resilience. The report notes that switching to permeable surfaces in flood-prone areas would allow rainwater to seep into the ground, helping to recharge groundwater and reduce waterlogging. Chennai's wetlands form another essential part of the solution. Neighbourhood lakes and river catchments can act as natural sponges, absorbing stormwater and filtering pollutants. Preserving and expanding these ecosystems would not only protect against flooding but also support birds, fish and other native wildlife. The report cites existing on-ground initiatives that have demonstrated success. For example, the Chennai Urban Farming Initiative has introduced rooftop and mobile gardens in schools, homes and homeless shelters. These help cool buildings, grow food and create learning opportunities and jobs—especially for women and young people. In a city with limited land, using rooftops effectively is a smart and inclusive strategy. 'These changes require investment. We estimate that around ₹2,203 crore would be needed to put key nature-based solutions into action across selected wards in the city,' the report said. It also noted that the potential economic benefits, such as reduced flood damage, could yield annual savings of over ₹500 crore—meaning the investment could be recovered in just over four years. What makes the approach especially appealing is its flexibility. Projects can start small—such as a community wetland park or a few green rooftops—and scale up over time. The aim is not to overhaul the entire city at once, but to create context-specific solutions developed in collaboration with communities. Lakshmi Menon, Senior Analyst in the Adaptation and Risk Analysis group at CSTEP, said: 'In cities like Chennai and Mangaluru, even modest ward-level investments in green infrastructure can yield substantial long-term savings and ecological benefits. As climate risks intensify, integrating nature-based solutions into urban planning is not just desirable—it is essential for building resilient, adaptive and sustainable cities.'
