WHO-IUCN's Flagship Report on Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and Human Health

“Intersectional approaches already exist and they are already proven”

– Ashley Emerson, Health In Harmony CEO of Business and Scale. 

Today at COP28, WHO-IUCN introduced their Flagship Report on Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and Human Health, presenting key messages for policymakers on integrating health and NbS. 

With growing recognition that working with nature can address critical climate challenges, as well as social and economic challenges, the report seeks to highlight the benefits of biodiversity and landscape protection, as well as how to more effectively implement these approaches at scale.

Taking the stage, HIH’s Ashley Emerson called for a need to deconstruct the idea of who is the expert in nature-based solutions and human health. “When we deconstruct this mindset, we can then change how we address these things, and how we fund them.” 

During the panel at COP28,  Program Officer for Biodiversity, Climate Change and Health at the World Health Organization, Cristina Romanelli, said: “HIH is a shining example of innovations on the ground.”

Finance was raised as a stumbling block in the implementation of NbS, while only 10% of climate finance reaches the local level, and climate finance is not systematically directed to where needs are highest. 

According to UNEP-WCMC, further watchouts include “incidences of corporate greenwashing and disregard for Indigenous Peoples and local community rights in projects – implemented under the guise of NbS – place the credibility and uptake of the approach in jeopardy”.