NBI Deep Dive: Methodologies for Valuing NBI for Water Management

Nature-based infrastructure (NBI), such as sand dunes and mangroves, provides cost-effective infrastructure services while also delivering a wealth of economic, social and environmental co-benefits. Despite these benefits, we do not see NBI deployed at the scale needed to adapt to increasing climate impacts and meet global needs for water infrastructure. Integrated valuations and scenario analysis prove to be a key tool for helping investors, planners and policy-makers make informed decisions about investing in nature-based and conventional grey infrastructure.

In the first webinar of the NBI Deep Dive series, we explain our Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) methodology, which uses a combination of system dynamics and spatial modelling, climate data, and financial analysis to assess the environmental, social, and economic performance of infrastructure assets. We use case studies of mangrove restoration in Indonesia and natural stormwater solutions in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Speaker

• Emma Cutler
  System Dynamics Analyst for Economic Law and Policy, IISD

Moderator

• Liesbeth Casier
  Lead, Public Procurement and Sustainable Infrastructure Policy and Coordinator of the NBI Global Resource Centre

You can watch the recording here:

 

About the NBI Deep Dive Series

This series will focus on the technical aspects of our Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) methodology, providing in-depth explanations of our process as well as applied examples in the form of case studies. The first three sessions will feature Nature-based Infrastructure (NBI) projects that address water-related challenges, alongside the UN Conference on Water.

We will look at systems modelling, spatial modelling, and financial modelling of various case studies to give the method context and explain its practical application.

These sessions are intended as a further building block from our training sessions, providing technical depth on the methods of assessing the value of specific NBI projects. We also hope to raise awareness on the importance of integrated assessments and scenario analysis, valuing all social, economic and environmental risks and opportunities for NBI projects.