Nature-based solutions are actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore ecosystems with both human well-being and biodiversity benefits. They are critical to climate and biodiversity and research indicates can provide over one-third of the climate mitigation needed between now and 2030 to stabilize warming to below 2 °C. The UN Global Compact indicates NBS can capture 10-12 gigatons of CO2 per year.
The protection/ restoration of mangroves along coastlines. Mangroves moderate the impact of waves and wind on coastal settlements or cities and sequester CO2. They also provide safe nurseries for marine life.
Green roofs are nature-based solutions inside a city. These can be used to moderate the impact of high temperature, capture storm water, abate pollution, and act as carbon sinks while enhancing biodiversity.
Hong Kong has beautiful coastal reefs, wetlands and mangroves, all of which already play an important role in protecting our city. Initial assessments show there is strong potential to further enhance these systems. In addition, our country parks and urban green space are also important resilience enhancing assets for Hong Kong.
In addition to storing carbon, nature-based systems can help protect us against extreme weather. This function will become even more important over time as sea levels continue to rise and Hong Kong experiences more intense climatic events.
Hong Kong has a phenomenal amount of coastline, which is covered by coastal reefs, wetlands and mangroves. Among other nature capitals, our coastline has the highest potential to reinforce our city’s climate resilience and water management capability. We need to identify strategic locations where nature-based systems could be restored, enhanced or protected to help build our city’s resilience.
Nature-based solutions can also help us reintroduce natural processes and functions in our built environment to recover, recreate or reinvent nature in urban landscapes. We need to reimagine the relationship between humans and natural elements, processes and functions.
Engage in actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural or modified ecosystems.
See Champions
Engage and volunteer in the co-management of ecosystem-services.
See ChampionsTo champion and accelerate solutions to the climate crisis, we have highlighted local organisations and showcased how their works have contributed to making Hong Kong a cleaner and greener city.
See All ChampionsJust as walking on sand leaves a footprint, burning fuel for human activity leaves greenhouse gases in the air, creating a carbon footprint. Everything we have, use, and consume, from food to clothes to transportation, is intimately linked to Hong Kong’s overall emissions figure.
According to WWF, if everyone on Earth led the same lifestyle as we do in Hong Kong, 4.2 Earths would be required to fulfil our resource need.
