In this report, Irina Herb and Christiane Gerstetter of Ecologic Institute, as well as Alexandru Matei (ICLEI), present insights on how nature-based solutions can contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), defined in the 2030 Agenda, and recommend several pathways for doing so.

They argue that nature-based solutions can contribute to achieving the SDGs because they often address public interest objectives and sustainability dimensions at the same time. This makes nature-based solutions effective instruments for addressing sustainability-related challenges in an integrated manner. For example, a park in a city can support environmental goals while also providing a recreational area for the urban population.

Nature-based solutions simultaneously require and enable the collaboration of various actors in society and – given their cross-cutting nature – the collaboration of different administrative departments. Finally, nature-based solutions can support an indicator-driven policy approach, as also required by the SDGs.