IUCN Launches Second Edition of Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions, Prioritizing Equity, Finance, and Scale

By Ange de la Victoire DUSABEMUNGU

Abu Dhabi, UAE – The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) officially launched the Second Edition of the Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions™ (NbS) at the IUCN congress in Abu Dhabi [Conversation History]. The launch event took place on Friday 10 October 2025

This revised Standard aims to make the framework clearer and easier to use while maintaining its rigor, strengthening equity, financial feasibility, and enabling conditions necessary to scale up effective and inclusive NbS worldwide.

Dr Grethel Aguilar, IUCN Director General, commented on the significance of the update, stating: “The updated Standard provides clearer guidance, stronger safeguards, and a renewed focus on long-term impact.”.

Enhanced Clarity and Systems Thinking

A core improvement in the Second Edition is the shift from simple checklists toward a systems-based perspective. The updated Global Standard now emphasizes the interconnections among ecological, social, cultural, and economic systems. This perspective is designed to help practitioners anticipate impacts more effectively, identify synergies across sectors, and manage trade-offs with greater confidence.

To improve usability, the revised framework includes consolidated overlapping indicators, streamlined language, and content reordered into a clearer sequence, ensuring consistent application across diverse contexts.

Strengthening Equity and Safeguards

The revised Standard significantly reinforces its commitment to equity, inclusivity, and respect for human rights. While inclusivity has always been central to NbS, this commitment is now clearer. The framework strengthens equity and safeguards by placing Indigenous Peoples and local communities at the centre, positioning them and other rights-holders at the core of shared governance.

The standard emphasizes inclusive participation, mutual respect and equality and ensures that grievance and conflict mechanisms are duly available. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of the equitable distribution of benefits and costs.

Long-Term Viability and Scale

Acknowledging the dynamic nature of ecosystems and societies, the updated Standard mandates the implementation of safeguards, corrective actions, and adaptive management. Practitioners are encouraged to monitor outcomes regularly and learn iteratively, ensuring NbS remain relevant and effective over time.

The focus on long-term impact is also reinforced through a financial lens. The updated Global Standard sharpens its focus on long-term financial viability, moving away from a narrow focus on economic viability to a clearer framing of financial feasibility and economic justification. It stresses the importance of securing financial mechanisms that sustain interventions well into the future.

To facilitate global up-scaling, the revised edition places greater weight on enabling conditions, including policy, finance, and regulatory frameworks. It also encourages the systematic documentation of lessons and barriers to inform transformative change.