Scaling up nature-based solutions (NbS) to deliver their full range of potential benefits requires coordinated efforts to enhance technical skills, devise innovative financing mechanisms, and improve governance. The ‘EU-LAC Policy Dialogue on Nature-based Solutions’ – an initiative led by the Directorate General of Research and Innovation of the European Commission – aims to establish a regular exchange between the EU and Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC) regions around nature-based solutions (NbS) to advance policy uptake and action in both regions. 

McKenna Davis and Natalia Burgos of the Ecologic Institute and Daniela Rizzi have been commissioned to produce a study to support the dialogue and assist in negotiations at the upcoming 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). This work builds on the experiences and lessons learned in the INTERLACE project, coordinated by Ecologic Institute. 

To promote a comprehensive and collaborative approach, the European Commission opened the Dialogue with a conference on NbS on 26-27 June 2024 in Brussels (Belgium). The outcomes of the event were complemented by further research to feed into the study. The final report outlines the current state of play around NbS in both regions, including identifying key actors and activities to date, and proposes potential pathways for collaboration. This work guides the EU-LAC policy dialogue to strengthen political collaboration and foster NbS implementation across the regions.