Mainstreaming Nature-based Approaches in Comprehensive Flood Risk ManagementThe Path to a Safe and Sustainable FutureThis project was made possible through the generous support of the Anne Ray Charitable Trusts and the Prince Albert of Monaco FoundationSuggested Citation: Smith, M.P., Galloway, G., van Wesenbeeck, B.K., Heynert, K., Brideau, J., Joseph, T., The Path to a Safe and Sustainable Future: Mainstreaming Nature-based Approaches in Comprehensive Flood Risk Management., The Nature Conservancy, 2017. The Path to a Safe and Sustainable Future:Mainstreaming Nature-based Approaches in Comprehensive Flood Risk ManagementNovember, 2017The Nature ConservancyMark P. SmithTracy JosephDeltaresBregje van Wesenbeeck Karel HeynertUniversity of MarylandGerald GallowayJeffrey M. BrideauTable of ContentsExecutive Summary .5Setting the Scene .7Introduction .7Scale and Scope of Flood and Storm Risk .9Scale and Scope of Environmental Degradation .10Trends and Drivers .11Global Response to Disasters . 13Global Response to Environmental Degradation: . 15Charting a New Course . 15Meeting Sustainability and Climate Goals . 15Two Strategies .16The Path to Sustainability . 23Two Strategies, One Path: Integrating Nature-based Approaches into Comprehensive Flood Risk Management . 23Natural and nature-based Approaches to Poor Drainage/Urban Flooding . 29Recommendations .30Recommendations .30Conclusion . 31Appendices . 32Appendix 1: Benefits of nature based approaches to social, flood and environmental goals. . 32Appendix 2: Timeline of Key Actions related to Climate and Disaster Risk Reduction at the Global Level . 34Endnotes. 35COVER IMAGE: Carlton Ward Jr.4 | Learn more at natureTHE PATH TO A SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE FUTURETNC: Jeff YonoverTHE PATH TO A SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE FUTURELearn more at nature | 5Comprehensive flood risk management is the adaptive process of planning and implementing a portfolio of risk reduction measures based on the relative amount of risk.Executive SummaryWater-related disasters - floods and storms - are the most frequent and economically and socially destructive of all natural disasters.1The increasing frequency, severity and costs of floods and storms are a major threat to the safety of people around the world and are a brake on the pace of development of people and countries around the globe. Between 1994-2013, natural disasters have affected 4.3 billion people worldwide of which, 3.0 billion people were negatively affected by floods and storms.2In addition, these floods and storms caused $1.6 trillion (USD) of damage.3Natural disasters and the efforts to recover from disasters are also a significant counterweight on economic and social development at national and regional levels. For every 1% increase in the area impacted by floods there is a 1.8% reduction in economic growth in a given year, with additional effects lingering into following years.4The trends related to environmental degradation are similarly stark. Global biodiversity continues to decline among all taxa, with freshwater and marine species among those with the most rapid declines.5The population of freshwater species have declined by 76% over the past 40 years.6The world has effectively lost 19% of the original area of coral reefs and 20% are under threat of loss in the next 20-40 years.7Coastal systems are similarly widely degraded. Between 20% and 35% of mangrove areas around the world have been lost since 1980. The increase in storms is fuelled by the changing climate and damages they inflict are exacerbated by the continued degradation of the environment. Healthy ecosystems play an important role in naturally defending lands from the impacts of storms and floods.Today, nations are aligning to two key global agreements: the United Nations 2015 Global Goals for Sustainable Development (SDGs) and the 2015 Conference of Parties Paris Agreement . Both of these explicitly recognize and address the increased disaster risk and the threat from environmental degradation - and both call for action to address them directly. Two strategies are uniquely able help countries achieve the SDGs and the Paris Agreement . The first is the need to sustain a focus on and increase investments in comprehensive flood risk management at national, regional and local scales. Currently, less than 1/2 of 1 percent of the overall investment in development is spent to prevent the disasters that cost almost as much as has the total amount that has been invested in promoting development over the last 40 years.8Second is the need to consistently include nature-based approaches as an integral part of sustainable development broadly and, in particular, as an integral part of comprehensive flood risk management. Development projects of all types, and in particular flood risk management efforts, should include environmental protection and restoration as explicit project outcomes. Increased investment in these two strategies is critical. Nature-based approaches are the intentional use, protection and restoration of the natural features and of natural functions as integral part of addressing human needs. Nature-based approaches include the protection and restoration of natural systems as an explicit desired project outcome. 6 | Learn more at natureTHE PATH TO A SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE FUTUREThe path to a safe and sustainable future integrating nature-based approaches into each of the phases of the flood risk management cycle. Ensuring the environmental goals are included at the outset as a key desired outcome of risk management will help ensure strategies are developed which both sustain environmental resources and reduce risks. Integrating nature-based approaches into the flood-risk management cycle will help ensure a full portfolio of approaches and projects, including traditional, nature-based, and combinations of both, are considered and deployed. Risk Goals and Policy Development and AdjustmentRisk StrategyDevelopment and SelectionRisk StrategyImplementationRisk StrategyMonitoring, Review and Evaluation Flood Risk ManagementHazard IdentificationRiskAnalysisEcosystem MonitoringEcosystem MeasuresEcosystem ManagementEcosystem FunctioningEcosystemStatusNatureLegislationRISK COMMUNICATIONFigure 1: Ecosystems in the flood risk management cycle.9,10To more consistently advance these strategies, there is the need to identify and commit to explicit goals related to their consistent use and deployment. Specifically, at the global level there should be efforts to: Set targets for increased investment in pre-disaster mitigation planning and projects; Set targets for increased investment in nature-based approaches through public and private plans and projects; Support improved national policies related to flood risk management and use of nature-based approaches; Invest in science and the sharing of information related to comprehensive flood risk management and the use of nature based approaches; Broaden education and outreachThe SDGs and the commitments arising from the Paris agreement provide the opportunity and framework within which nations and communities can fully embrace both comprehensive flood risk management and the use of nature-based approaches. THE PATH TO A SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE FUTURELearn more at nature | 7Setting the SceneIntroductionThe most widespread and costly natural disasters are those that result from floods and storms.11The increasing frequency, severity and costs of floods and storms are a major threat to the safety of people around the world and are a brake on the pace of development of people and countries around the globe. The increase in storms is fuelled by the changing climate and damages they inflict are exacerbated by the continued degradation of the environment. Healthy ecosystems play an important role in naturally defending lands from the impacts of storms and floods. Combined with continued population growth, the migration of people to cities, and an increasing standard of living around the world, the costs of these disasters, in both human and economic terms, will continue to grow and will slow the progress of global development and the extraction of billions of people from povertySimultaneously, environmental conditions continue to degrade around the world. The growing global population and the rising standard of living in many parts of the world are accelerating the use and exploitation of the earths resources, destroying and altering habitat areas and disrupting the natural processes on which species and ecosystems depend. As a result, global biodiversity continues to decline among all taxa, with freshwater and marine species among those with the most rapid declines.12The loss of freshwater and coastal ecosystems increases the risks to people, property and livelihoods from floods and storms.Today, nations around the world, and the multi-lateral and bi-lateral groups supporting these countries, are aligning most of efforts to two key global agreements: the 2015 Global Sustainability Goals and the 2015 Conference of Parties (COP21) climate agreement Both recognize and address the increased disaster risk and the threat from environmental degradation - and both call for action to address them directly. The SDGs prominently mention the need to address extreme events and disasters in 4 of the 17 goals1. In addition, the SDGs explicitly focus on the need to reverse the tide on environmental degradation in 3 of the 17 goals.2Similarly, the Paris agreement on climate change focuses attention on the need to adapt to changes brought on by climate change and recognizes:“the importance of averting, minimizing and addressing loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change, including extreme weather events and slow onset events, and the role of sustainable development in reducing the risk of loss and damage.” 13And it highlights “the importance of ensuring the integrity of all ecosystems, including oceans, and the protection of biodiversity, recognized by some cultures as Mother Earth, and noting the importance for some of the concept of “climate justice”, when taking action to address climate change.” 14Two strategies are uniquely able to play a major role achieving the SDGs and Paris Agreement related to flood risk reduction and environmental sustainability. First is the need to increase attention and investments in the comprehensive flood risk management at national, regional and local scales. Second is the need to consistently include nature-based approaches as an integral part of achieving sustainable development broadly and, in particular, as integral to holistic flood risk management. 1 Goal 1 (ending poverty), Goal 9 (building resilient infrastructure), Goal 11 (cities and human settlements), and Goal 13 (action to combat climate change)2 Goal 6 (water), Goal 14 (oceans), and Goal 15 (terrestrial systems). Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 25 September 2015, 70/1. Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, pp. 6, 23, & 24.8 | Learn more at natureTHE PATH TO A SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE FUTUREIn particular, there is a great need to shift the focus of risk-reduction investments from post-disaster recovery to greater investment in pre-disaster preparation and mitigation. Such pre-disaster investments reduce risks through the use of a portfolio of risk management approaches and support the development of plans that outline how to build back better when a disaster does occur. Similarly, there is the need to greatly increase the investments to reverse environmental degradation, particularly the continuing degradation of coastal and river ecosystems. The consistent use of nature based approaches to flood risk management is an important part of reversing these trends. By including the protection and restoration of key habitats such as reefs, marshes, and floodplains as key elements of flood risk management nations will be inv