Nature-based Infrastructure: How Natural Infrastructure Solutions Can Address Sustainable Development Challenges and the Triple Planetary Crisis - Executive Summary

This executive summary outlines how nature-based infrastructure can contribute to addressing sustainable development, climate change and biodiversity challenges through integration with built infrastructure systems. It presents a framework describing five functions through which nature-based infrastructure delivers, enhances and protects infrastructure services while providing workforce and wider social, environmental and economic benefits. The document assesses its contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals and climate mitigation and adaptation objectives, examines investment opportunities and financing gaps, and identifies barriers to wider implementation, including data limitations, governance, costs and stakeholder coordination. It concludes with recommendations for embedding nature-based infrastructure into planning, investment, monitoring, capacity development and decision-making to support sustainable infrastructure systems.