Blue Cities: Nature-based Solutions for Coastal Climate Resilience

We live in a constantly changing world where climate and biodiversity crises impact thousands of people daily, demanding urgent actions for adaptation and resilience. Although various documents and action plans at different governance levels emphasize the importance of ecosystem restoration and climate resilience, highlighting Nature-based Solutions (NbS) as strategic pathways, many professionals responsible for adaptation initiatives and urban planning still face challenges in implementing NbS projects in their local contexts. Focused on coastal cities, this document provides an overview of NbS that can be applied in Brazil to enhance climate resilience. Although this guide was prepared within a more regional perspective, it offers solutions that can be applied to cities worldwide. We aim to support decision-makers, public managers, legislators, investors, and the general public by compiling information to facilitate the identification of NbS strategies for promoting urban sustainability and preparing cities to cope with extreme weather events that are intensifying due to climate change. This work was produced by the Brazilian Ocean Literacy Alliance, coordinated by the Maré de Ciência Program/Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation of Brazil (MCTI), and UNESCO, in collaboration with the Boticário Group Foundation for Nature Protection, to strengthen the science-policy interface. The information shared here is based on globally implemented examples and rigorous scientific curation, reinforcing the opportunity for science-based decision-making rooted in successful experiences.