Accelerating the Pace and Scale of Nature-Based Solutions for Climate

Communities and governments must respond to climate change by reducing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and managing the risks posed by the increased likelihood and intensity of hazards like flooding, wildfires, heat, and drought. Accelerating the pace and scale of conservation, restoration, and management is required for California to advance climate action and reach its goals of carbon neutrality and climate resilience. When conserved and restored, healthy lands and aquatic ecosystems sequester significant amounts of carbon dioxide, protect communities from extreme weather events, and foster wildlife habitat and biodiversity, among many other benefits. However, the ability to conserve, restore, and manage natural and working lands is severely constrained by the type and amount of funding available, the permitting and regulatory requirements, and the capacity of implementing organizations. These constraints make it impossible to implement conservation, restoration, and management at the necessary pace and scale to meet our emissions reductions goals and limit climate risks.

ERG supported The Nature Conservancy in a project that worked with technical and policy experts to identify solutions that make broad landscape-scale actions possible and to improve climate benefits of natural and working lands. Working with an Advisory Group composed of state and local agency representatives, tribal entities, and private partners, ERG developed recommendations for a new organizational structure to support broad and timely action to advance conservation, restoration, and management of natural and working lands at the county level. This new organizational and funding structure would reduce the administrative burden, increase the stability of funding, align complementary work within counties and across the state, and make tracking progress toward climate goals more effective and informative. ERG continues to support this work and is currently piloting this model in Mariposa County and other regions throughout the state.