By 2050, rising sea levels, groundwater rise, and increased stormwater flooding will impact thousands of miles of shoreline in communities around the world unless adaptation measures are taken. Although it is generally understood that Nature-based Solutions (NbS) can address these risks while providing economic, ecological, and social benefits, these solutions are not yet widely implemented in coastal adaptation efforts, and there is no proven methodology for evaluating their effectiveness.

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Without a methodology for evaluating the performance of living infrastructure compared to traditional engineering practices, communities are at a disadvantage. They miss out on potential cost savings, reduced emissions, increased carbon sequestration, enhanced biodiversity, cooling, improved human health, and water infiltration and re-use, as well as opportunities to address inequities.

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According to this study’s findings, 45%-64% of those embodied carbon emissions can be avoided now to meet the global 1.5ºC goals, primarily through informed decisions made by the design team regarding sourcing and specifying materials, as well as collaborating with contractors and manufacturers. However, complete nature-based adaptations, with up to 91% improved carbon impacts and 30% less cost, will not be fully realized without support from clients, owners, and municipalities. Carbon limitation requirements are emerging for buildings but do not yet exist for site infrastructure. Sixty-two percent of coastal adaptations within this study exceed the established upper carbon emission limits for buildings, a largely overlooked pattern that will persist without intervention.

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This methodology examines thirteen coastal adaptations from twelve notable U.S. projects, revealing ways to shift from business-as-usual, largely high- emitting site infrastructure to solutions that can fully address both the climate and biodiversity crises.

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The study sheds light on common challenges, including societal perceptions, conflicts with existing policies, and a lack of investment in Nature-based Solutions. Insights from this study will inform the infrastructure needed for 2050, 75% of which is yet to be built. This presents an opportunity to create low-carbon, nature-based infrastructure instead of exacerbating the climate crisis. By developing and testing this methodology, the results of this study may pave the way for widespread implementation of nature-based adaptation solutions.

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Project Team: Charles Waldheim (PI), Pamela Conrad (PI), Cory Page, Greg Barger

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Faculty Partners: Chris Reed, Gary Hilderbrand, Amy Whitesides