Climate change and the different aspects that involve the concept of “development” are intrinsically connected. In a world increasingly affected by climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation, Nature-based Solutions (NbS) represent an important option for regeneration and mitigation efforts of climate change in the oncoming decades.
On one hand, the economic development of our societies has contributed to an unsustainable increase in greenhouse gas emissions, which are destabilizing the global climate system, while generating an unequal distribution of people’s capacity to cope with these changes. On the other side, there is a broad agreement that climate change directly and negatively impacts what is known as sustainable development.
So far, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol has been the most relevant mitigation project under the auspices of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
However, there are other alternatives such as “additional standards” from Voluntary Carbon Markets and Social Technologies.
Among the benefits of Nature-based Solutions are:
Adaptation:
- Nature-based solutions help protect people and property from the impacts of climate change, such as sea-level rise, floods, storms, and heat waves.
- Healthy ecosystems are more resilient and can better absorb the impacts of climate change.
Health:
- Nature-based solutions improve people’s health by reducing air and water pollution.
- They also contribute to the reduction of vector-borne diseases, such as dengue fever and malaria.
Climate Change Mitigation:
- Nature-based solutions capture and store carbon naturally. This helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change.
The carbon offsets we develop are the result of the efforts of forest communities – mostly of indigenous origin – who have protected their lands for generations.
Yaax Carbon empowers these communities in developing carbon capture projects to strengthen their connection with nature and create a new generation that raises awareness and actively participates in the conservation of their environment.
