The UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) has launched a new framework to support industry recognise and capture the significant value and benefit of nature-based solutions across urban developments.

In February 2022 the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)’s reinforced the urgent need for climate adaptation, highlighting “any further delay in concerted global action will miss a brief and rapidly closing window to secure a liveable future.”1 Many of the risks identified for the UK fall under the direct responsibility of the built environment, such as heat stress and flooding. The accelerating impacts of climate change highlight the critical need for greater levels of adaptation and mitigation across the built environment. 

Nature-based solutions (NBS) offer an adaptation approach for our cities and built environments to become more resilient to the impacts of climate change. However, delivering NBS at scale will require both public and private funds to be committed at increased levels. To date, the majority of global finance for nature has been provided by the public sector, coordinated by national and local governments. In the UK a £976 million spending gap has been identified for the provision of accessible green (and blue) spaces.2 Greater support from the private sector will therefore be critical to bridging the finance gap for adaptation.

“We are witnessing the stark reality of humanity’s consumptive approach to the planet’s resources with an alarming trend in nature loss, which not only contributes to climate change but is also accelerated by its impacts. Our industry needs to move beyond current compliance-based thinking to a regenerative one, recognising that the built environment can be a force for positive change. UKGBC’s guidance provides a practical framework for assessing the contribution of Nature based solutions to add value to a place, the neighbourhood and our environment. By creating opportunity and pathways for biodiversity through our urban spaces we can play our part in reversing this decline with a buildings and infrastructure that exist in harmony with nature and the environment.” Troup Bywaters + Anders’ Managing Partner, Peter Anderson

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