As the impacts of climate change intensify, governments at all levels face growing pressure to develop effective strategies for adaptation and resilience. One approach that has gained significant traction in recent years, particularly among major international development organizations such as the World Bank, the World Economic Forum, the UNFCCC, and UNCBD, is Nature-Based Solutions (NBS). Now, NBS has rapidly entered mainstream policy and funding agendas. Yet despite its popularity, the concept of NBS remains complex, contested, and often vaguely defined. Its development and implementation raises important questions about equity, justice, effectiveness, and power. This pre-symposium session offers a critical introduction to nature-based solutions: where the concept originated, how it is framed, who defines it, and who stands to benefit from it. Participants will explore the narratives that shape NBS, interrogate its underlying assumptions, and examine the socio-political contexts in which it operates. The goal of the session is to encourage thoughtful, informed engagement with NBS, ensuring that frontline communities are protected and that climate action does not create more harm than good.
