'Nature-positive solutions' to climate change aim to harness the power of natural processes and living organisms to mitigate, adapt and build resilience against climate change and stem biodiversity loss.
In food production, locally-led approaches include agroecology, regenerative agriculture, agro-biodiversity, ‘biocultural solutions’, silvo-pastoral systems, agroforestry, and other Indigenous and ecologically beneficial agricultural practices. At international level, the emphasis of current approaches is often on mitigation, i.e. reducing the loss of carbon from arable land or increasing carbon accumulation in biomass and soils.
Session 5A featured panel discussions with eight leaders from a mix of geographies and approaches, featuring diverse examples of nature-positive approaches to farming.
Presenters and participants explored how locally-led nature-positive solutions can help communities adapt to the reality of a changing climate, improve their food security and health, thereby contributing to resilience, food sovereignty and economic empowerment.
Some key messages:
• Nature-positive solutions can contribute to adaptation and resilience as well as mitigation if co-created with local communities based on their priorities, knowledge, experiences and concerns.
• Nature-positive solutions are a systemic approach that needs to be defined, owned and led by local communities.
• Many communities around the world are already 'doing' nature-positive solutions; they need a platform and resources for sharing their learning and experiences with others in peer-to-peer exchanges.