HARNESSING NATURE-BASED SOLUTION FOR COASTAL CITIES TO COMBAT CLIMATE RISK

Social and environmental benefits

- JITENDRA CHOUBEY @New Delhi

CHECKED urban expansion has resulted in significant land-use and land-cover changes, leading to deforestation and reduction in green spaces. These factors exacerbate the impacts of climate change, particularly in India's coastal cities, where effects are more intense and widespread.

For instance, the loss of vegetation and wetland ecosystems in urban areas have intensified the urban heat island effect, increasing communities' vulnerability to flooding and water scarcity. It disproportionately affects marginalized groups, especially those living in informal settlements without adequate infrastructure or access to resources, thereby worsening socio-economic inequalities.

The Center for Study of Science, Technology, and Policy (CSTEP), a Bangalore-based policy think tank, conducted granular analyses of India's coastal cities, Chennai and Mangalore, to strategize on investments and the implementation of nature-based solutions (NbS).

CSTEP's study, "Urban Greenprints: A Nature-based Solutions Feasibility Framework for Urban Coastal Regions," identified areas for NbS intervention in coastal cities to effectively address climate risks. These solutions are cost-effective and offer both environmental and social benefits.