CLIMATE EMERGENCY | NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS solution type. These profiles enable landscape strategies to be appraised on how they contribute to the attainment of the developments sustainability targets, business priorities and wider value creation. The aim is to influence and support decisions around landscaping design based on the desired attributes being sought. Take a typical masterplan containing a busy high street with lots of pedestrians and road noise, for example. Priorities might include reducing the risk of pedestrians overheating in summer, decreasing noise pollution for building occupants, and avoiding flood risk. The tool could be used to identify the mix of nature-based solutions to optimise delivery against these priorities. For instance, it would identify that trees, on average, reduce air temperature by 3K, can absorb 4dB of sound, and reduce rainwater runoff by 43%. Trees also contribute to net zero targets by sequestering carbon, and help attract retail tenants by increasing peoples willingness to spend in local businesses by 30%. Nature-based solutions can also return financial value. Last year, the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) released a report that outlines how nature-based solutions can be the basis for financial benefits and new revenue streams.5 Takeaway Nature-based solutions can be viewed by engineers as an extension to their toolbox of approaches. In practice, they will probably require new cross-discipline working partnerships, to tap into the expertise of landscape architects, ecologists and sustainability consultants to apply solutions to real-world projects. CJ ROBERT WINCH is a senior consultant and ASHLEY BATESON a director, both at Hoare Lea, and CHIN CHEN is a senior associate at Grant Associates. References: 1 www.builtenvironmentdeclares.com 2 www.buildingservicesengineersdeclare.com 3 Almond R E A, Grooten M, Juffe Bignoli D and Petersen T, Living Planet Report 2022 Building a nature positive society, WWF, Switzerland 4 www.linkedin.com/company/uk-building-services-engineers-declare 5 The value of urban nature-based solutions, UKGBC, May 2022, bit.ly/CJNatUKGBC Over their lifetime, nature-based solutions actively pull carbon out of the atmosphere SCIENCE-BASED TARGETS FOR NATURE Science-based targets for nature (SBTN) developed by the Science Based Targets Network, a collaboration of global non-profits and other organisations are designed to help organisations measure and address environmental impacts across the supply chain, using the best possible science available. The targets focus on impacts on the environment that organisations should avoid and reduce such as deforestation and pollution as well as positive impacts, including watershed restoration and the rehabilitation of degraded land. Land and freshwater targets that support biodiversity are the first action areas that SBTN are making available for companies to set targets against, to reduce their negative impacts and increase positive outcomes for nature and people. The first methods help firms address their impacts across their direct operations and upstream supply chains. This includes technical guidance for organisations to assess and prioritise their impacts on freshwater quality (specific to nitrogen and phosphorus) and freshwater quantity. The guidance for land targets are designed to protect and restore ecosystems. SBTN are similar to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), launched in 2015 as a collaboration between a partnership between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), which helps companies reduce their emissions in line with climate science. SBTi provides the framework and tools for companies to set science-based net zero targets and limit global temperature rise above pre-industrial levels to 1.5K. Sector-specific targets have been developed for a number of industries, including power, cement, and financial institutions. In May, draft guidance was published for the building sector: see bit.ly/CJJul23SBT. GEYSER SKY Reversible heat pump with natural refrigerant Ideal for boiler replacement High comfort thanks to the variable speed technology Propane (R290), future proof refrigerant No Ozone layer impact & close to zero global warming potential Meets the highest seasonal efficiency standard Visit: www.swegon.com/uk to find out more 26 July 2023 www.cibsejournal.com