A Framework to Evaluate the SDG Contribution of Fluvial Nature-Based Solutions

TY - JOUR

T1 - A Framework to Evaluate the SDG Contribution of Fluvial Nature-Based Solutions

AU - Andrikopoulou, Tatiana

AU - Schielen, Ralph M. J.

AU - Spray, Chris J.

AU - Schipper, Cor A.

AU - Blom, Astrid

N1 - Funding Information: The research behind this paper was a collaboration of TU Delft and Rijkswaterstaat in the Netherlands. It was funded by Rijkswaterstaat and greatly benefited from discussions with TU Delft and RWS colleagues, examining nature?based projects and their potentials with respect to the UN 2030 Agenda. The EU Interreg Building with Nature program?s projects were an inspiration and key evidence?contributor to the paper. We would also like to thank the Tweed Forum that provided all the information needed for the Eddleston Water Project, as well as the external reviewers for their time de-voted to this manuscript since we feel their comments helped to improve the quality of the manuscript. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

PY - 2021/10

Y1 - 2021/10

N2 - Nature-based solutions (NBSs) are measures reflecting the ‘cooperation with nature’ approach: mitigating fluvial flood risk while being cost-effective, resource-efficient, and providing numerous environmental, social, and economic benefits. Since 2015, the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda has provided UN member states with goals, targets, and indicators to facilitate an integrated approach focusing on economic, environmental, and social improvements simultaneously. The aim of this study is to evaluate the contribution of fluvial NBSs to the UN 2030 Agenda, using all its components: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), targets, and indicators. We propose a four-step framework with inputs from the UN 2030 Agenda, scientific literature, and case studies. The framework provides a set of fluvial flooding indicators that are linked to SDG indicators of the UN 2030 Agenda. Finally, the fluvial flooding indicators are tested by applying them to a case study, the Eddleston Water Project, aiming to examine its contribution to the UN 2030 Agenda. This reveals that the Eddleston Water Project contributes to 9 SDGs and 33 SDG targets from environmental, economic, societal, policy, and technical perspectives. Our framework aims to enhance the systematic considerations of the SDG indicators, adjust their notion to the system of interest, and thereby enhance the link between the sustainability performance of NBSs and the UN 2030 Agenda.

AB - Nature-based solutions (NBSs) are measures reflecting the ‘cooperation with nature’ approach: mitigating fluvial flood risk while being cost-effective, resource-efficient, and providing numerous environmental, social, and economic benefits. Since 2015, the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda has provided UN member states with goals, targets, and indicators to facilitate an integrated approach focusing on economic, environmental, and social improvements simultaneously. The aim of this study is to evaluate the contribution of fluvial NBSs to the UN 2030 Agenda, using all its components: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), targets, and indicators. We propose a four-step framework with inputs from the UN 2030 Agenda, scientific literature, and case studies. The framework provides a set of fluvial flooding indicators that are linked to SDG indicators of the UN 2030 Agenda. Finally, the fluvial flooding indicators are tested by applying them to a case study, the Eddleston Water Project, aiming to examine its contribution to the UN 2030 Agenda. This reveals that the Eddleston Water Project contributes to 9 SDGs and 33 SDG targets from environmental, economic, societal, policy, and technical perspectives. Our framework aims to enhance the systematic considerations of the SDG indicators, adjust their notion to the system of interest, and thereby enhance the link between the sustainability performance of NBSs and the UN 2030 Agenda.

KW - Flooding

KW - Indicators

KW - Nature‐based solutions

KW - River

KW - Sustainability

KW - Sustainable development goals

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85117251932

U2 - 10.3390/su132011320

DO - 10.3390/su132011320

M3 - Article

SN - 2071-1050

VL - 13

JO - Sustainability

JF - Sustainability

IS - 20

M1 - 11320

ER -