Mainstreaming Nature-based Solutions for Climate-Resilient Coastal Towns

Knowledge Sharing Workshop

This event aims to disseminate knowledge and insights among key stakeholders and policymakers. The program is designed to facilitate exchange and dialogue around hazard-specific Nature-based Solutions (NBS) interventions, with the goal of integrating locally grounded experiences into broader infrastructure planning for enhanced climate resilience. The event will also serve as a platform for aligning strategies, promoting coordination, and encouraging collaboration across institutions. 

Event description

As a low-lying deltaic nation in the Global South, Bangladesh is among the most climate-vulnerable countries globally, facing rising sea levels, intensified cyclones, salinity intrusion, and recurring floods that threaten lives, livelihoods, and sustainable development. The coastal region, home to millions, is particularly at risk, with climate hazards like storm surges, sea-level rise, and coastal erosion placing immense pressure on local infrastructure and ecosystems. Strengthening resilience in these areas is essential to protect communities and ensure sustainable growth. 

Institute of Water and Flood Management, BUET, in partnership with Global Center on Adaptation (GCA), supported by the UK International Development with funds from the UK government, has provided technical support to Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded Coastal Towns Climate Resilience Project (CTCRP), implemented by Local Government Engineering Department’s (LGED). Under the technical support, GCA is assessing the climate risks and identifying and prioritizing NBS for climate resilience in four coastal towns.  

Nature-based solutions (NBS) offer an innovative and sustainable approach to addressing challenges related to climate change. By harnessing the power of natural ecosystems, NBS can mitigate climate impacts, enhance biodiversity, improve water management, and provide cost-effective alternatives to traditional engineering solutions. To mainstream NBS, GCA is leveraging its Global Tools for NBS to identify high-impact, investment-ready interventions tailored for the transport sector against coastal flooding, fluvial flooding, and landslides. This tool evaluates and prioritizes NBS options based on social and financial indicators, such as, return on investment, carbon storage, biodiversity value, etc. The published Investor Briefs for Bangladesh and Tanzania have highlighted the importance of NBS in safeguarding transport systems.  To complement the NBS efforts, GCA has recently launched Bangladesh’s first National Compendium on Nature-Based Solutions for Urban Resilience, providing a practical roadmap for cities to adapt to climate change while enhancing livability and green spaces. This compendium showcases locally led initiatives and serves as a critical resource for integrating NBS into urban planning and infrastructure development. Through these initiatives, GCA is not only facilitating climate-smart planning in four pilot towns under the Coastal Towns Climate Resilience Project but also establishing a scalable model for mainstreaming NBS across Bangladesh. 

However, despite the recognized potential of NBS, the coastal towns in Bangladesh currently lack the necessary capacity, resources, and access to high-resolution climate data to fully integrate these approaches into town planning and infrastructure development. To address these gaps, there is a critical need focused, long-term capacity-building effort that can equip local practitioners with the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to implement NBS across coastal towns effectively. 

Purpose of the Event
This event aims to disseminate knowledge and insights among key stakeholders and policymakers, including LGED, Department of Disaster Management (DDM), Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA), Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE), Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), etc. The program is designed to facilitate exchange and dialogue around hazard-specific Nature-based Solutions (NBS) interventions, with the goal of integrating locally grounded experiences into broader infrastructure planning for enhanced climate resilience. The event will also serve as a platform for aligning strategies, promoting coordination, and encouraging collaboration across institutions. 

Specifically, the event aims to: 

• Share the findings of the CTCRP project. 
• Discuss hazard-specific NBS options relevant to geographic and socio-economic contexts, and GCA’s vision in mainstreaming NBS globally. 
• Foster peer learning among the relevant ministries

Expected Outcomes
At the end of the event, participants will: 

• Gain a clearer understanding of how NBS can address sectoral challenges such as flooding, erosion, salinity, and urban heat 
• Recognize hazard-specific NBS and evaluate their relevance and adaptability to the geographic and socio-economic context of their respective towns. 
• Strengthening cross-institutional connections, and fostering future collaboration among stakeholders, including LGED, DDM, BWDB, WASA, BMD, DPHE, and DAE.