A scientific paper led by The Nature Conservancy outlines five principles that will help leaders define, implement, and measure effective natural climate solutions.

ARLINGTON, VA (January 23rd, 2024) —The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has released a scientific paper outlining five key principles crucial for the global implementation of natural climate solutions (NCS). Published in the journal Nature Communications and led by TNC's Global Director of Natural Climate Solutions Science, Peter Ellis, “The Principles of Natural Climate Solutions” provides essential guidance for activating effective, measurable, and equitable NCS, offering a powerful tool to address the urgent challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss.

The key principles outlined in the paper—nature-based, sustainable, climate-additional, measurable, and equitable—establish a comprehensive framework for identifying and implementing high-integrity NCS. This framework ensures that investments in NCS can be made confidently, yielding real-world, cost-effective, and measurable impact.

“Science has shown us that we need nature in order to avoid the worst impacts of climate
change,” Ellis says. “But confusion about what constitutes a natural climate solution remains a
barrier to advancing these essential practices effectively. We hope this paper helps more clearly define the conversation so we can move swiftly from talking about natural climate solutions to implementing them.”

By adhering to these principles, practitioners can activate effective and equitable NCS, enabling the rapid adoption needed to address the climate and biodiversity crises.

"We’ve done the research and the science is clear: To keep global temperatures in check, the
land sector must reach net zero emissions by 2030—a more challenging decarbonization target compared to any other sector,” said Bronson Griscom, Vice President of Natural Climate Solutions at Conservation International and lead author of the 2017 study that found nature can provide at least 30% of the emission reductions needed to reach global climate goals. “It is imperative that we achieve two things at once: high integrity, high volume natural climate solutions, along with rapid decarbonization of all sectors.”

"This paper provides the foundation for key principles that can guide us all toward building and scaling natural climate solutions that consistently benefit the planet and the people on it."

The paper, grounded in leading scientific research and authored by a diverse group of experts from seven organizations, provides guidelines for incentivizing and implementing global efforts to protect, better manage, and restore nature.

“In the face of a climate crisis, the world is looking for transparency and accountability in the
solutions that harnesses nature’s climate mitigating potential,” said Christine Cadigan,
Executive Vice President of Carbon Origination at the American Forest Foundation. “This paper provides the foundation for key principles that can guide us all toward building and scaling natural climate solutions that consistently benefit the planet and the people on it.”

The research emphasizes the critical role NCS play in both short- and long-term climate change mitigation together with innumerous co-benefits – for people and nature alike. With the potential to deliver a third of the necessary global greenhouse gas emission reductions, NCS—which involve protecting, better managing, and restoring forests, grasslands, agricultural lands, and wetlands—offer a cost-effective and readily available means to combat climate change.

"We can't implement NCS without people, which is why having a human rights-based approach to NCS is critical to its success,” says Vanessa Carrasco Denney, Natural Climate Solutions Science Program Manager for TNC. “We have to carefully consider the local contexts and equity implications of each project, paying special attention to respecting human rights and the self-determination of all rightsholders involved. Implementing NCS projects with high scientific and social integrity is not only the right thing to do but will also help ensure the long-term success and viability of these solutions."

In 2017, TNC conducted a landmark study revealing the transformative potential of nature.
Natural climate solutions actions, which contribute to emissions reduction and carbon storage, also support thriving ecosystems, biodiversity, and communities. The urgency of the climate crisis necessitates the swift global implementation of these solutions.

“The Principles of Natural Climate Solutions” serves as a rallying cry for global collaboration,
encouraging stakeholders to not only act swiftly but to steward nature equitably, ensuring
maximum climate impact. TNC remains committed to working in partnership with scientists,
Indigenous Peoples, communities, and leaders worldwide to deploy nature's potential in
achieving global emissions reduction goals.

About The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more sustainable. Working in more than 70 countries and territories, we use a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit nature.org or follow @nature_press on Twitter.

About The American Forest Foundation
The American Forest Foundation is a national conservation organization that works with a
broad coalition of partners to empower family forest owners to make a meaningful conservation impact around carbon sequestration, wildfire reduction, wildlife habitat, clean
water, sustainable wood supplies and support for rural communities. To learn more about the
Family Forest Carbon Program, visit www.familyforestcarbon.org.

About Conservation International
Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, for biodiversity and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples and local communities to help people and nature thrive together. Go to Conservation.org for more.

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CONTACTS
The Nature Conservancy: Adrienne Egolf, aegolf@tnc.org
American Forest Foundation: Kristen Voorhees, kvoorhees@forestfoundation.org
Conservation International: Jenny Parker, jparker@conservation.org