Ecosystems provide essential services to human societies. For example, they help regulate the climate, purify water, and limit the impacts of floods. 

Human societies and ecosystems have different ways of adapting to climate change. Communities react to the impacts they experience or try to anticipate them, while ecosystems adjust to disturbances independently and progressively through ecological and evolutionary processes. 

By drawing inspiration from the functioning of natural environments and choosing nature-based solutions, communities can strengthen their resilience and reduce climate-related risks. Climate hazards are putting a strain on Quebec’s municipalities and industries. The increased frequency and intensity of extreme events are raising costs and forcing them to review their approaches to planning and managing infrastructure and protecting populations. 

This summer, the province has experienced record-breaking heat, heavy rains, flooding, and landslides. Several coastal regions are also at risk of submergence. In parallel with its efforts to adapt to climate change, Quebec has also made commitments to reduce its GHG emissions (37.5% below 1990 levels by 2030) and to protect biodiversity (30% of land protected by 2030).
Nature-based solutions enable the development of measures that address all three.

What adaptation solutions does nature offer us? 

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) defines nature-based solutions as actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural and modified ecosystems. They address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, while offering benefits in terms of human well-being and biodiversity. These approaches have already proven their worth in Quebec. 

• In urban environments, solutions like rain gardens, green roofs and street-side tree planting use nature to manage stormwater. This promotes water infiltration, improves air quality, and cools neighbourhoods by adding shade. These improvements reduce heat islands, limit the risk of storm flooding, and also beautify public spaces. The example of the Papineau Avenue redevelopment work in the north of Montréal illustrates this approach, combining nature with what is known as grey or classical infrastructure. In addition to upgrading sewers and water supply systems, the project added bioretention basins, bioswales and several thousand plants. This green infrastructure acts like a sponge and successfully diverts nearly 100,000 m³ of water from the sewer system.
• In agricultural environments, nature-based solutions can help protect soils, preserve crops and promote biodiversity. They include practices such as agroforestry and vegetated riparian strips and windbreaks. These solutions reduce erosion and make crops more resilient to climate hazards like extreme rains and flooding. They also produce co-benefits, such as the reduction of diffuse pollution from agriculture. Subsidies to farmers in the Lac Boivin watershed in the RCM of Haute-Yamaska have allowed such solutions to be implemented. They will help maintain the soil and reduce the eutrophication of the lake.
• In coastal areas of Quebec, like the Bas-Saint-Laurent region and the Gaspé Peninsula, coastal erosion and submergence are a significant risk. To limit the impacts on coastal habitats, natural approaches can be used, such as the revegetation of shorelines with native species and the installation of living fences following the natural contours of the land.
  The conservation of natural environments also plays a key role. For example, wetlands help regulate excess water during extreme rain or floods while helping to maintain water quality. Wetlands also act as a buffer zone against forest fires, support rich biodiversity, and have significant carbon storage capacity.
   
   

What obstacles limit their large-scale implementation?

Despite their potential, nature-based solutions can run up against some challenges. Their value to society tends to be underestimated compared to more traditional approaches, such as dyke construction, pipe repairs and air conditioning systems. 

There is also a risk of instrumentalizing nature, for example by planting trees for the sole purpose of offsetting carbon emissions. Instead, they should involve rethinking our practices in order to integrate nature into land use planning more often. Implementing nature-based solutions requires long-term vision and planning. As they are alive and are affected by the climate, their durability depends on constant monitoring, evaluation and adjustment.

Community awareness and engagement are critical to the success of nature-based solutions. This requires a continuous dialogue between citizens, elected officials and experts in order to co-build projects that are in keeping with local realities. It’s also important to support existing citizen initiatives, such as community gardens, ecological corridors and participatory science programs. Coordination between sectors and inclusive governance are essential to ensure their effectiveness.