Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 19:

In page 7, between lines 12 and 13, to insert the following: “ ‘nature based solutions’ means locally adapted, resource efficient, costeffective and systemic interventions supported by nature, which simultaneously provide environmental, social and economic benefits incorporating more diverse, nature and natural features and processes into cities, landscapes and seascapes;”.

Amendment No. 19 inserts a definition of "nature based solutions". This is based on amendments tabled in the Dáil. It makes sure that we are clear about what we mean by "nature based solutions". There are many definitions of nature-based services and nature-based solutions. This is a positive definition that talks about "locally adapted, resource efficient, costeffective and systemic interventions supported by nature, which simultaneously provide environmental, social and economic benefits incorporating more diverse, nature and natural features and processes into cities, landscapes and seascapes". I give credit for this to Deputies Whitmore and Christopher O'Sullivan. I worked with them on a biodiversity sub-committee of the Joint Committee on Climate Action. They championed and pressed for the idea of a stronger focus on biodiversity and nature-based solutions. I borrowed this definition from them and particularly like that cities have a role to play in nature-based solutions and biodiversity. I give credit to them. It would be useful to have a definition of nature-based solutions, ideally this one, in the Bill.