Nature-based solutions for hydro-meteorological hazards: Revised concepts, classification schemes and databases.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Climate Change Adaptation
• Ecosystem Management

Background:

• Hydro-meteorological hazards (HMHs) pose significant risks to societies and ecosystems, risks projected to intensify under future climate scenarios.
• Effective cataloguing of HMHs is crucial for risk assessment and remediation, but uncertainties in hazard origins and triggers present challenges.
• Nature-based solutions (NBS) offer a promising approach to mitigate HMHs, yet their widespread implementation is hindered by various factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze and present a classification scheme, key features, and design elements for nature-based solutions (NBS) to mitigate hydro-meteorological hazards (HMHs) in Europe.
• To systematically review the literature on NBS classification and assess barriers to their widespread adoption.
• To critically evaluate HMH drivers, their interrelationships (multi-hazards), and the effectiveness of NBS in diverse environmental contexts.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review focusing on NBS classification and hydro-meteorological hazards (HMHs) in Europe.
• Critical evaluation of existing literature on HMH drivers, multi-hazard interactions, and NBS effectiveness.
• Assessment of data availability for HMHs and NBS, identifying gaps and proposing strategies for improvement.

Main Results:

• A conceptual framework for classifying NBS in the context of HMHs was developed, highlighting the context-dependency of NBS effectiveness (location, species, environmental conditions).
• Nature-based solutions (NBS) are often more cost-effective than traditional hard engineering, especially considering co-benefits.
• Significant gaps and barriers exist in the uptake and upscaling of NBS for HMHs reduction, particularly concerning data availability and implementation studies.

Conclusions:

• Further research and conceptualization are needed to fully leverage NBS for HMH mitigation in Europe.
• Addressing data gaps and implementation barriers is essential for the wider adoption and upscaling of NBS.
• The review provides fundamental concepts and technical features to guide practitioners in designing and implementing NBS for real-world HMH management.