Nature-based solutions for hydro-meteorological risk reduction

Abstract

The risks of extreme hydro-meteorological hazards, such as floods, droughts or storm surges, are expected to increase significantly due to climate change, population growth, land use change and other pressures. These risks have high impacts on societies, the environment and the economy. To address these challenges, effective methods for risk reduction are necessary to mitigate the impacts. While traditional ‘grey infrastructure’ approaches, such as dikes, sewage systems, and dams, are often used, they are generally not flexible enough to deal with future uncertainty. Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) have emerged as flexible and cost-effective options for mitigating these hazards by utilizing nature-inspired interventions like afforestation, river restoration and wetland restoration. NBS not only combat climate change and reduce hydro-meteorological risks but also generate co-benefits such as biodiversity enhancement, recreational opportunities, and temperature reduction; thereby contributing to various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The risk reduction benefits and co- benefits of NBS is the subject of this research. To gain insights into the current state of scientific literature on hydro-meteorological risk reduction through NBS, a systematic review of existing literature was conducted. The review identified directions for future research based on current knowledge gaps. It highlighted the need for methodologies that can help the decision-making process in selecting NBS and evaluating their performance both before and after the implementation of NBS. There should also be more efforts in the development of assessment tools that incorporate new technologies such as real-time control systems and coupled models that provide more active and integrated operational solutions.