Webinar on "Nature-based Solutions and Innovative Finance"

As climate change increases the risk of flooding, drought and biodiversity loss, NbS are emerging as no-regret measures that can build resilience while delivering multiple co-benefits for people and ecosystems. Defined by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as actions to protect, sustainably manage and restore natural or modified ecosystems to effectively address societal challenges, NbS are scalable and cost-effective approaches to adaptation and ecological restoration.

River basins, as integrated hydrological units, are particularly well suited to the implementation of these solutions on a large scale. Ambitious programmes, such as natural water retention measures (NWREM), can enhance water security, ecosystem health and climate resilience.

However, despite their recognised benefits, the majority of NbS remain limited to isolated pilot projects, hampered by a lack of sustainable financing and fragmented governance.

At the same time, the financial sector is undergoing profound changes: the challenges of climate risk, biodiversity loss and social justice are redefining investment priorities. The challenge now is to link ecological logic with economic imperatives, making NbS visible, viable and attractive for investment, while ensuring equity and inclusion.

Innovative mechanisms such as water funds, payments for ecosystem services (PES) and debt-for-nature swaps demonstrate the potential of sustainable finance to accelerate the mainstreaming of NbS.

This webinar will explore the role of innovative financing as a driver for scaling up nature-based solutions, and will complement the discussions from the webinar on 21 October on river basin resilience.

Together, these two sessions highlight the need to bring together institutional, financial and ecological commitments to transform NbS from pilot projects into systemic responses to climate and water security challenges.

Provisional programme

Master of Ceremonies

• Mr Kirk Bright Enu, Postdoctoral Researcher, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)

Opening address – Financing NbSs

• Ms. Andrea Erickson, The Nature Conservancy (TNC)

Thematic framework – What is an NbS? Why they matter for addressing water challenges and generating co-benefits

• Ms. Naomi Noel, The Nature Conservancy (TNC)

Introduction to financing – Water funds, blended finance, climate-related instruments

• Mr. Franz Rojas, Director of the Water and Sanitation Division, Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF)

Making nature count – Valuing ecosystems in the water economy

• Ms. Florentina Nanu, Managing Partner, BD Group (Romania)

Inclusive and community-based approaches to sustainable financing

• Mr. Stephen Kibet, Youth & Community Involvement, The Nature Conservancy (TNC)

Interactive polls and Q&A session

Closing

• Dr. Eric Tardieu, Secretary General of the International Network of Basin Organisations (INBO) (to be confirmed)