Investing in nature-based solutions (NbS) could create up to 32 million new jobs by 2030. This is according to a new report by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

Currently, over 60 million people work globally in activities categorised as NbS, which are actions to protect, conserve, restore, sustainably use and manage natural or modified terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems.

The report noted that through targeted investments, NbS employment could increase by up to 32 million jobs globally.

The biggest gains would be in Africa, Latin America and the Arab States, where the number of people working in NbS could go from the current level of 2.5 million to over 13 million by 2030. The share of global NbS employment in these regions would increase from around 5% currently to over 40%.

Stewart Maginnis, deputy director-general of IUCN, said in a press release, “When planned and implemented using a robust environmental, social, and economic framework following the IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions, NbS offers an essential tool in the implementation of the climate and biodiversity policy frameworks. This makes NbS a scalable and effective means to address the interlinked climate and biodiversity crises while delivering important benefits for human well-being and livelihoods, including good jobs.”

The report also noted that skills gaps in both technical and core competencies pose barriers, with most existing NbS jobs classified as medium-skilled roles. As NbS grows, higher-skilled roles are projected to rise, emphasising the need for targeted skills development to scale projects and enhance job quality.