Other strategies and possibilities Of the many ways to combat climate change, the following are examples of how countries may find direct and indirect uses of established techniques that have proven effective over the long term. All of these strategies have multiple benefits. Expanding nature-based solutions and rethinking polluting industries Nature-based solutions are designed to protect and restore natural or modified ecosystems while supporting human well-being and providing biodiversity benefits. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature has developed a global standard to help practitioners design, implement and verify nature-based solutions, and recommends the use of ecosystem-based frameworks and tools (IUCN 2020). The World Resources Institute (WRI) offers a set of principles for one version of a nature-based solution — forest landscape restoration.
People around the world have practiced this “new” approach for centuries, and the people of Central Asia are using nature-based solutions whether they call it that or not. Many afforestation projects have elements of nature-based solutions and these and other projects could adopt more of the principles of landscape restoration and could create more climate and socioeconomic co-benefits through intentional design. The World Bank has recently initiated a design of regional “RESILAND CA+” Programme for Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan to boost landscape restoration efforts. A fresh reconsideration of polluting industries is another promising area for climate progress. Designing for the long-term impacts of climate change in sensitive zones can head off preventable catastrophes such as the potential infrastructure failures in high elevation mining. Other options include mitigation through technologies such as carbon capture and storage at cement plants or other significant emitters, and further reducing gas flaring and methane leaks.
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