Nature –
our future
Nature is our strongest ally in dealing with climate change while providing us with all the resources we need to live. Land and oceans absorb about half of the CO₂ emitted by humans. By preserving and restoring natural habitats, we also preserve and support the natural storage of CO₂. In settlement areas, sustainable agriculture and nature-friendly cities can contribute as well.
Land-use changes like deforestation, mining, agriculture and urban development pose a great threat to ecosystems and endanger biodiversity.
Biodiversity loss makes ecosystems less resilient. For example, they become more vulnerable to extreme weather events like drought, which are exacerbated by climate change. In addition, agriculture is replacing traditional plant varieties and animal breeds with fewer, high-yielding cultivars and productive breeds, and this decline in agrobiodiversity increases the risk of diseases, pests and crop failures. Preserving biodiversity is therefore crucial for global food security.
URBAN NATURE
Integrating natural elements into settlements reduces the human impact on the environment. This increases biodiversity, improves soil quality and enhances CO₂ storage in urban areas.
Greening
… is the introduction of plants to spaces and buildings in urban areas (e.g., trees, parks, ponds, meadows, flowerbeds and green roofs and facades). It improves air quality, the local climate (e.g., through shading)
and water retention.
Decontamination
… means restoring the natural properties of soils, groundwater or surface water by removing pollutants or making them nontoxic. The restored habitats increase biodiversity and offer new opportunities for their use.
Surface Unsealing
… means replacing asphalt pavements with waterpermeable alternatives like grass grids. It allows soils
to once again absorb rainfall (sponge city) and reduces the flood risk.
SUPPORTING NATURE
Earthʼs ecosystems store large amounts of CO₂ , both above and below ground. Protecting these ecosystems is crucial for climate regulation, biodiversity preservation and the maintenance of vital ecosystem services.
Preserving existing habitats is much easier and more cost-effective than restoring them after destruction.
Conservation
… means protecting the natural environment from repurposing. National parks and nature reserves are one example. Conservation allows us to preserve habitats that are millions of years old.
Regeneration
… means restoring a damaged or destroyed ecosystem to its natural state. Examples include reforestation, rewetting of wetlands and the reconnection of fragmented natural spaces such as lakes, rivers, and forests. Above-ground ecosystems may take decades or centuries to fully recover, while those underground may never regain their original performance and diversity.
AGRICULTURE IN TRANSITION
For the last approx. 12 000 years, humans have been transforming wilderness into pastures, meadows, fields and settlements. Today, half of the habitable land on Earth is used for agriculture, with 80 % of it dedicated to livestock farming. Farmers must meet the global demand for food and textile fibres while also preserving natural resources (air, water and soil) to ensure agricultural production and CO₂ storage in soils for future generations.
Water Management
… through innovative irrigation techniques helps to mitigate drought. Well-rooted soils also contribute to water storage and help retain water during floods.
Small-Scale Agriculture
… creates a mosaic of cultivated areas and natural habitats. It promotes biodiversity by providing numerous plant and animal species with refuges, niches and migration corridors. Such diverse landscapes are more resilient to changes, including those driven by climate change.
Reducing Livestock Farming
… prevents overgrazing and frees up large land areas that would otherwise be used for feed production. This enables the cultivation of more plant-based foods for humans, which has a lower impact on the climate (less CO₂ , methane and nitrous oxide).
Regenerative Agriculture
… improves soil quality and increases biodiversity, thereby enhancing ecosystem resilience and CO₂ storage.
Examples include agroforestry (growing trees alongside agricultural crops), polycultures (growing multiple crops in communities that support one another), minimal tillage (protecting microorganisms and soil quality) and paludiculture (using re-wetted wetlands for agriculture, e.g., rice cultivation).
Cutting down on Agrochemicals
… such as biocides and fertilisers can be achieved by using natural alternatives like compost fertilisation and beneficial organisms (e.g., ladybird beetles against aphids). Ensuring a balanced rotation of different crops (instead of planting monocultures) helps reduce diseases, pests and weeds while optimising nutrient use in the soil.