New Memo: Supporting Nature-Based Solutions in Coastal Cities

Our latest policy memo provides recommendations to help coastal city governments increase the use of nature-based solutions in urban harbor and waterfront projects.

Nature-based solutions (NBS) are a cost-effective, socially and economically beneficial approach to building climate resilience. Unfortunately, current policies still favor hardened, gray infrastructure, and NBS projects are often delayed by complex permitting processes, outdated regulations, and research gaps.

Using learnings from the City of Boston, our latest memo outlines how coastal cities can address these challenges and encourage the integration of NBS in urban harbor and waterfront projects.

Several organizations and municipalities in Greater Boston are advancing NBS along the waterfront, and their experiences offer valuable lessons for coastal cities nationwide. Drawing on discussions with community organizations, nonprofits, and private developers in Boston, this memo, developed in partnership with Boston Harbor Now, provides recommendations to help coastal city governments scale the use of NBS by ensuring efficient approvals, dedicating staff and capacity, updating regulations, and investing in monitoring.