资源环境科技发展态势分析平台

Nature already mitigates a significant portion of man-made GHG emissions; approximately a quarter of these emissions are absorbed by trees, plants, and soil, while another quarter is absorbed into marine systems. Yet, if protected, sustainably managed, and restored, nature has the power to do even more.

Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) are climate mitigation technologies that harness natural processes to reduce or remove greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. With the potential mitigation impact of 11 gigatonnes of CO2 annually, NCS can provide over a third of cost-effective climate mitigation needed worldwide to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and keep global warming below 2°C. Yet, less than 3 per cent of global climate finance is going towards NCS, signaling a clear mismatch between NCS potential and what is invested in that potential.

Support from the private sector plays a critical role in scaling NCS implementation. Businesses can catalyse significant reductions of GHG emissions through investments in NCS – not only to address their own company’s footprint, but also to drive transitional change for entire sectors.

Conversely, NCS presents a wealth of opportunities to businesses – with a range of motivations – in achieving their internal corporate goals, while also supporting the advancement of national climate targets within their countries of operation.

How can natural climate solutions be leveraged to achieve their full potential? What is the role of the private sector, and where are the opportunities for businesses to invest in natural climate solutions?

This joint report by Conservation International, DBS Bank, National University of Singapore (NUS) and Temasek highlights opportunities for businesses to invest in NCS – particularly those in Southeast Asia – to stimulate the implementation of NCS at scale.