Canada’s Action on Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Adaptation

Launched in October 2018, the Global Commission on Adaptation is a two-year initiative created to catalyze a global movement accelerate climate adaptation solutions.

Under the leadership of Ban Ki-moon, the 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations, Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, the Commission is convened by 23 countries, including Canada.

In 2019, the Commission released its flagship report, Adapt Now: A Global Call for Leadership on Climate Resilience (PDF), which calls for innovative thinking in three areas: Understanding Adaptation, Planning for Adaptation, and Financing Action. Based on the Report, eight action tracks were established to highlight climate adaptation solutions and drive innovative thinking in Nature-Based Solutions, Food Security, Finance, Cities, Infrastructure, Locally-led Action, Water and Disaster Risk Management.

In recognition of the untapped potential for nature to reduce climate risks, Canada and Mexico are co-leading the Nature-Based Solutions Action Track. Canada has also contributed $7.5 million to the Global Commission on Adaptation. Of this amount, Environment and Climate Change Canada is providing $7 million towards the overall work of the Commission. The International Development Research Centre is providing $500,000 to support the 20/20 Young Adaptation Professionals Programme - a 24-month capacity building initiative that is bringing together 20 emerging research voices, from across the global South. Their work will inform the global adaptation agenda and advance action that will help communities and countries all over the world become more resilient to climate-related threats.

Canada and Mexico are co-leading on the Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) Action Track in partnership with international partners. The action track aims to accelerate the uptake of nature-based solutions for climate adaptation, by profiling the leadership of countries and cities, as well as by identifying innovative approaches for financing these solutions and engaging Indigenous peoples and youth to learn from their perspectives.

Outcomes of the work under the NBS Action Track will be showcased at the Climate Adaptation Summit, which will be held virtually on January 25, 2021.

On January 21, 2021, Youth4Nature and the Global Youth Biodiversity Network, in collaboration with Environment and Climate Change Canada, are hosting the international virtual event, Youth Leadership in Nature-Based Solutions for Adaptation: Dialogue at the Intersection of the Climate and Biodiversity Crises. This event is part of a series of initiatives under the Global Commission on Adaptation’s Nature-Based Solutions Action Track that Canada is co-leading with Mexico. This engaging 2.5-hour event will provide a forum for senior professionals and young professionals to critically discuss opportunities and challenges for scaling up nature-based solutions for adaptation. Register now!

On January 25, 2021, the Netherlands will host the first ever global summit of world leaders entirely focused on climate change adaptation to help trigger the systemic change required for a climate resilient world. The Climate Adaptation Summit will be an online conference over the course of 24 hours with Anchoring Events taking place in capitals around the world.

The NBS action track will organize a virtual two-hour anchoring event designed to:

1. Demonstrate the significant multisector value of NBS for adaptation at scale by presenting compelling examples of national, municipal, Indigenous, youth, public and private sector action and, as a result, and
2. Inspire continued multisector action to initiate and scale NBS for adaptation around the globe.