The development of human civilization has been closely intertwined with nature since the time immemorial beginning. Humanity and nature have maintained a harmonious balance as we moved from hunting and gathering to agricultural societies. However, conflicts between humans and nature have occurred since the Industrial Revolution began flourishing in the 19th century.  The operation of machines and the extensive use of energy sources such as coal and oil have accelerated the depletion of natural resources and increased carbon dioxide emissions. In response to the redistribution and explosive growth of the world’s population, the overdevelopment of lands such as forests and farmland has exhausted the environmental carrying capacity and gradually disrupted the entire ecosystem. It is particularly evident when humans abandon traditional, natural farming methods that coexist with the environment in pursuit of massive crop yields by adopting large-scale commercial farming. While commercial farming practices have brought rapid economic benefits, the natural ecosystem has become severely imbalanced, resulting in barren soil and depleted land productivity. Consequently, with the backlash from nature and the compounding effects of climate change, humanity ultimately will face a food shortage crisis.

The international community has increasingly emphasized climate change issues in recent years. Countries have frequently proposed specific goals to demonstrate their ambitions at various conferences of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Each agreement and declaration reached after these conferences offers a glimmer of hope amidst the onslaught of climate change. However, statistical data from recent years suggests that many global efforts to address climate change appear to have failed to prevent deterioration. For instance, according to an analysis by NASA, the average global temperature in 2022 was approximately 1.11 ℃ higher than the average temperature at the end of the 19th century, ranking the fifth highest recorded surface temperature, tied with 2015. Moreover, Taiwan’s climate change science team’s estimates indicate that under the most severe conditions, without reducing greenhouse gas emissions, Taiwan’s winters could completely disappear as early as 2060.

To mitigate the impact of climate change, the term “Nature-based Solutions (NbS)” has emerged in the international community in recent years. At COP26 in 2021, the Glasgow Climate Pact recognized these solutions as one of the key measures for climate change adaptation.  The solutions balance human well-being with biodiversity benefits, effectively addressing societal challenges by conserving, restoring, and sustaining natural ecosystems. However, no clear definition of “Nature-based Solutions” exists internationally, leading to concerns about “greenwashing” when enterprises utilize the concept. This issue focuses on the topic “The Application of Nature-based Solutions in International Development Aid” with the hope of introducing readers to what nature-based solutions are, discussing the development trends of nature-based solutions, inviting experts and scholars to discuss how they can be applied in international cooperation, and how Taiwanese enterprises can leverage their experience and creativity in conservation through participation in foreign aid work when the international community gradually recognizes the crucial role of natural capital and biodiversity in addressing climate change issues. Furthermore, this issue includes insights from the Taiwan Technical Mission in Papua New Guinea on the local pathways for applying nature-based solutions and their experiences promoting rice cultivation projects.

In the special report, we feature the article “Incorporating Nature-based Solutions into Climate Change Adaptation: Challenges and Strategies,” which includes interviews with Professor Ling- ling Lee from the Institute of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology of National Taiwan University and Kuang-Chih Chang, Director of Water Resources Planning Institute, Water Resources Agency, Ministry of Economic Affairs. They share insights from academic and governmental perspectives on the current development trends and applications of “Nature-based Solutions” and the challenges and responses the Taiwanese government may face when incorporating these solutions into climate change adaptation policies.

A passage from “ Zhuangzi: The Adjustment of Controversies” states: “Heaven, Earth, and I were produced together, and all things and I are one.” These few words encapsulate the wisdom and philosophy of the harmonious coexistence of humanity and nature and suggest that over 2,000 years ago, “Nature-based Solutions” were already part of human wisdom. Through this article,   we hope to enable readers to understand why nature-based solutions can become a key measure to address climate change and encourage everyone to reflect on reconciling the relationship between “humans” and “nature” while pursuing economic growth and social development.

 

Summaries

The Application of Nature-based Solutions in International Development Aid (Chyi-Rong Chiou, Associate Professor, School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University; President, International Climate Development Institute)

According to the Global Risk Report 2024 published by the World Economic Forum, the primary short- and long-term risks humanity faces stem from the degradation of nature and the impact of climate change. Thus, addressing the three core challenges of the Anthropocene— mitigating and adapting to climate change and protecting biodiversity—has become critical to ensuring the sustainable survival of human society. In this context, society has turned to Nature- based Solutions (NbS) to address these challenges simultaneously. In developing countries, NbS initiatives are often funded and supported by developed countries in collaboration with local non-profit organizations. This article aims to review the current promotion of NbS in developing countries and explore how NbS can be integrated into international development aid. It seeks to strengthen the connection between development aid, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and biodiversity conservation while proposing future pathways for incorporating NbS into international development aid efforts.

International Cooperation Trends and Insights in Promoting Climate Change Adaptation through Nature-based Solutions

(Yu-Yuan SHIH, Assistant Professor, Graduate Institute of Sustainability Management and Environmental Education, National Taiwan Normal University)

The Glasgow Climate Pact from COP 26 in 2021 identified Nature-based Solutions (NbS)    as a key measure for climate change adaptation, ensuring social well-being and environmental protection. In 2023, during the Fifth Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5), NbS was defined, and a consensus was reached on its promotion. It was recognized that ecosystem services can offer solutions that enhance national resilience to climate change and address various societal challenges. In recent years, countries have increasingly adopted NbS to drive climate adaptation actions, with international cooperation becoming a global trend.

In response to climate change and international developments, Taiwan has integrated the NbS concept into its national climate adaptation actions starting in 2023. This article summarizes the approaches of the European Union, the United Kingdom, Japan, the United States, and ASEAN countries while analyzing Taiwan’s opportunities and challenges in promoting climate change adaptation through NbS. By examining the practices and strategies of other countries, this paper aims to offer insights for Taiwan in expanding international cooperation on climate adaptation through NbS. Given Taiwan’s strengths in water resource management and agriculture, along with its long-standing international collaborations with Southeast Asian countries, it is suggested that Taiwan could draw on the practices of advanced nations to promote NbS-based international cooperation on climate adaptation, particularly by extending its efforts to Southeast Asia, thus deepening the application of international development aid.

Nature-based Solutions and Nature-related Financial Disclosures:

New Opportunities for Taiwanese Businesses in International Aid

(Wen-Chi Yang, Associate Professor, Department of Diplomacy, National Chengchi University; Director, Australian Studies Centre, College of International Affairs)

In 1992, the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, led to the establishment of three major international conventions: the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. These pivotal environmental treaties were designed to address the most pressing challenges to human survival and promote sustainable development. However, 30 years later, environmental issues such as climate change and biodiversity loss have become more severe, and businesses now face increasing nature-related risks.

In recent years, the international community has introduced several nature conservation concepts and frameworks, among which two stand out for offering new strategic frameworks   to businesses: Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD). These frameworks can help companies address environmental challenges while creating sustainable value.

NbS uses nature and ecosystems to address social and environmental challenges and can encompass diverse initiatives such as forest conservation, wetland restoration, and green infrastructure. TNFD, on the other hand, is a task force initiated by global businesses, financial institutions, governments, and non-profit organizations to create a framework for companies to disclose nature-related risks and opportunities.

This article first provides a brief overview of the development of NbS and TNFD, followed  by an analysis of the current status of Taiwanese companies adopting these concepts. Finally, it explores whether these frameworks can incentivize businesses to increase their involvement in international aid projects.

 
Ecological Agriculture in Harmony with Nature: A Case Study of the TaiwanICDF Rice Seeds Production Project in Papua New Guinea

(Hung-Tse Liu, Specialist of the Taiwan Technical Mission in Papua New Guinea; Dong-Hong Wu, Associate Research Fellow, Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture)

Ensuring stable national development and industrial competitiveness must prioritize food supply and the needs of the people. However, agricultural production has long-term, often irreversible impacts on landscapes and ecosystems. Developing countries are particularly vulnerable in the face of extreme weather conditions and global trade competition. Taking  the upland rice industry in Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea, as an example, the region’s agriculture is under pressure from climate change and poor cultivation techniques. Additionally, the economic fragility of farmers, who cannot afford fertilizers or agricultural machinery, has led to declining rice production capacity and the urgent need for assistance.

Recognizing that the well-being of all life on Earth depends on natural resources and scientific evidence that humans must coexist with natural ecosystems to sustain a good quality of life, the Taiwan Technical Mission in Papua New Guinea employed nature-based solutions. The mission analyzed the environmental challenges faced by rice farmers. It proposed an ecological farming strategy, introducing measures such as natural pest control, creating a biodiverse environment, and recycling agricultural waste. These efforts aim to enhance farmers’ resilience to climate change and improve their livelihoods.

After three years of capacity building, the rice farming area expanded from less than 9 hectares to 57 hectares, and white rice production increased from 3.2 metric tons to 46.2 metric tons, benefiting 500 farmers. Beyond self-sufficiency, the community now has surplus rice to sell, contributing to local economic development and offering hope for the rice industry’s adaptation to environmental challenges. This case provides a model of sustainable agriculture for international agricultural aid.

 

• 更新日期: 2024/09/27
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