色控传媒

Building climate resilience through nature

Climate change and biodiversity loss are two sides of the same coin. Rising temperatures threaten ecosystems, weakening nature鈥檚 ability to regulate climate and protect us.

Hong鈥疜ong is a dense, coastal city facing stronger storms and increasing heat stress. Yet it is also a place with approximately 40 percent鈥痮f its land designated as country parks, sustaining rich biodiversity. The city needs a cohesive approach to strengthen its ecological resilience.

Despite growing global momentum for nature-based solutions (NbS), Hong鈥疜ong lacked tailored design guidelines for its unique urban and ecological context. To close this gap鈥痑nd help mainstream鈥疦bS鈥痠n public works and infrastructure, we served as consultants in developing the 鈥淗ong鈥疜ong Nature-based鈥疭olutions鈥疍esign Guidelines鈥� (HKNbSDG) for the Civil Engineering and Development Department鈥�(CEDD) and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) of the HKSAR Government.

Image source: 贬辞苍驳鈥疜辞苍驳鈥疦补迟耻谤别-产补蝉别诲鈥疭辞濒耻迟颈辞苍蝉鈥疍别蝉颈驳苍鈥疓耻颈诲别濒颈苍别蝉 developed by CEDD and AFCD

A framework for local action

At its core, the HKNbSDG is a roadmap for integrating nature into Hong鈥疜ong鈥檚 built and natural environments. It translates global NbS principles into a practical framework, integrating geographical, environmental, cultural and socio-economic considerations. It shows how NbS can tackle climate challenges while enhancing biodiversity and improving daily life.

Developed by a multidisciplinary team of planners, ecologists, engineers, landscape architects and sustainability experts, the guidelines:

• Highlight how鈥疦bS鈥痙elivers benefits for both biodiversity and society
• Identify key design characteristics that build ecological and climate resilience
• Demonstrate how鈥疦bS鈥痯rinciples can be applied to Hong鈥疜ong鈥檚 built and natural environments

The framework is designed for a wide range of users, from government departments, private developers to researchers, scientists and NGOs, helping them address key societal challenges while benefitting both people and nature.

Guiding principles with examples across different environments

Rooted in science and best practices, the HKNbSDG sets out nine鈥痙esign鈥痝uidelines under three鈥痗ore鈥痯rinciples:

• Core principle 1: Promoting ecosystem diversity at multiple scales
• Core principle 2: Embracing human鈥搉ature coexistence for mutual benefits
• Core principle 3: Improving resilience through nature-based solutions

These principles can be applied across a range of environments where nature conservation or landscaping works are typically undertaken, showing how鈥疦bS鈥痗an complement both natural and built landscapes:

1. Countryside and rural environments
2. Rivers and drainage systems
3. Marine environments and coastlines
4. Man-made and natural terrains
5. Urban open spaces
6. Built environments

This adaptable framework is already being validated through successful local case studies, including Long Valley Nature Park and Tung Chung East Eco-shoreline.

Towards a resilient, nature-based future

The鈥疕KNbSDG鈥痠s more than a technical guide 鈥� it is a catalyst for a resilient Hong Kong. It provides the foundation for major initiatives like the Northern鈥疢etropolis鈥疍evelopment鈥疭trategy, ensuring鈥疦bS鈥痙rive urban rural integration where development and conservation co-exist.

By localizing global best practices, the guidelines assist users in planning and designing NbS projects, while fostering cross-sector collaboration needed to tackle Hong Kong鈥檚 most pressing societal challenges.

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