Webinar: Nature-Based Solutions Report Launch

Today RRC attended a webinar hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Climate Change Group (APPCCG), focusing on the launch of the Nature-based Solution Report from RSPB and Cambridge Econometrics. Fiona Harvey chaired the webinar, opening the session by highlighting that Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are a beneficial approach to mitigating the impacts of climate change, and how there is an economics concept to NbS.

Caroline Lucas, Green Party MP, talked about the costs and benefits of NbS. These can be used to stem the extinction of species, and offer an opportunity for solving the dual crisis, or even triple crisis of Climate Change, biodiversity impacts and the Covid-19 pandemic. Caroline outlined how we have a crisis in our relationship with the natural world, as well as the crisis which significantly undervalues nature.

We need to keep making the argument for a combined response to climate change and biodiversity, and hold the government to account when they promise green recovery but fail to deliver. Framing around ‘nature’, recovery strategies and cost-benefit analysis can be a useful tool for bridging multiple crises, and tackling in collaboration with each other.

NbS can help protect biodiversity, encourage carbon sequestration and provide jobs. The evidence is overwhelming that we should invest to help protect more of our woodlands and peatlands. Fortunately, Nbs is an important part of government ambitions for a green recovery.

This webinar was to highlight the launch of a new report ‘Economic costs and benefits of nature-based solutions to mitigate climate change’, commissioned by RSPB and conducted by Cambridge Econometrics. Paul Morling, Chief Economist at the RSPB introduced us to the report methods and outputs.

Paul mentioned how RSPB have been following the opportunities around NbS and how they can make a great contribution to nature recovery. They wanted to examine this contribution in economic terms, and understand the opportunity for doing NbS in the UK. This involved highlighting where the opportunities are for delivering beneficial outcomes to nature, in combination with economic benefits (peatland and saltmarsh restoration, and carbon sequestration).

RSPB/Cambridge Econometrics carried out a cost-benefit analysis to understand the asset value of nature, as well as a Gross Value Added (GVA) analysis to model input and output in terms of economic activity potential (e.g. job creation). These economic benefits fall into three categories – private, social, non monetizable benefits. As well as this, there are site considerations, as not all sites will be exactly the same, so some estimation is required. The model looked at representative numbers for some of the benefits of work that has already been carried out. These numbers are indicative i.e. in terms of carbon savings, and sites differ considerably.

3 main habitats were of interest in terms of economic benefit – woodlands, peatland and saltmarsh. Peatlands showed a very high return (for every £1 spent, £4.62 can be expected to be returned in the economic and social benefits!). An expected 55% of peatland are to be restored to good status by 2050, generating approx. 48,000 temporary jobs in the restoration phase alone! The non monetised benefits include biodiversity, water quality, flood alleviation recreation and wellbeing.

The woodlands also showed a high cost-benefit, with every £1 spent returning an expected £2.79 in economic and social benefits. This excludes the potential monetary value associated with production of timber and wood fuel. The government decision to plant 30,000 hectares of woodland in the UK each year would create approx. 7,500 temp jobs to carry out restoration/planting activities. Also, £366m can be generated in GVA during the tree planting stage.

Saltmarsh presents a newer, hard process as an individual concept, as this habitat is made up of a mosaic of coastal habitats – shingle, reeds, beaches. However, restoration of 4.5% of UK saltmarsh could create 308 temporary jobs in the restoration stage. Coastal habitats provide a whole range of other benefits to both nature and social wellbeing and recreation.

Paul summarised by pointing out that there is a huge opportunity for NbS to be implemented to tackle climate and nature issues.

Following Paul’s summary of the report, other panellists contributed with their responses.

Sally-Ann Hart MP, Conservative Party, welcomed the report in the run up to COP26. She believes we can combat climate change whilst taking nature along with us – enhancing biodiversity and returning lost habitats to our coastlines and countryside. Alongside creating jobs for the economy, wellbeing and recreation.

As a coastal MP, Sally-Ann mentioned that coastal ecosystems can sequester carbon at higher rates than land based approaches.

This report sets out a plan to build back better, and highlights the role of nature and carbon capture. There are several ways the UK can implement NbS, but it is difficult to produce hard data owing to the nature and habitats. We need to unlock the potential for NbS on land and in our oceans. Sally-Ann pointed out that government funding is currently committed to increasing investment in NbS.

Next, Abena Oppong-Asare MP, Labour’s Shadow Treasury Minister for the Environment gave her response to the report, mentioning she is looking forward to seeing what work comes out of this from the Government.

She mentioned the importance of a longer term view of economic decision making and economic effect on nature. The Chancellor should ensure every budget line is tested against its contribution to net zero and enhancing biodiversity. There are both economic and environmental solutions, and NbS to tackle climate change and increase biodiversity go hand in hand!

NbS will help create jobs across the country both in the short and medium term. We have all felt the importance of nature and the outdoors in this pandemic, and we all recognise the importance to our physical and mental wellbeing.

Abena suggested the government is not currently on track to reach it’s nature targets of net zero. Government efforts around nature have too frequently been left to local authorities and charities. We need to start focusing on investing in NbS and recognise how this has environmental benefits as well as economic impacts through job creation to support nature-based recovery.

Finally, Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, CEO of the Global Environment Facility, and former Environment Minister of Costa Rica gave his perspective. He pointed out how we have a multiple-crisis, including not only climate change and biodiversity loss, but also the Covid-19 pandemic and pollution problems (air, waste, human health). This is an underlying topic which needs to be brought to the forefront. The pandemic has opened our eyes to the human crisis and how we need to target nature recovery.

Carlos pointed out this is an economic/political situation as well as an environmental situation. He pointed out the institutional/market failure and how we need more comprehensive approaches of how we can help nature recovery.

Thanks to all involved in running this webinar. Interesting to hear different perspectives on Nature-based solutions and nature recovery. Great to have representation from 3 MPs from different political parties, as well as an international perspective.