Six principles to guide natural climate solutions in Africa

A new commentary in Nature outlines six principles to guide natural climate solutions across Africa, with the goal of delivering credible carbon benefits while safeguarding people and nature. The authors present these principles as a practical compass for decision-makers and practitioners working across governments, communities, project developers, and investors.

What are natural climate solutions?

Natural climate solutions are actions that protect, restore, and better manage ecosystems so they can store more carbon while supporting biodiversity and livelihoods. These approaches can include restoring degraded lands, improving land use practices, and conserving forests and wetlands. Done well, they can deliver climate benefits alongside social and economic co-benefits over the long term.

Six principles, shared direction

While the paper does not prescribe a single project model, it argues that clear, shared principles can raise the bar on integrity, equity, and ecological outcomes. At a high level, the framework emphasizes delivering real and durable climate benefits alongside protections for people and nature, helping to align climate finance with results on the ground.

Why now

Interest in nature-based approaches has grown as countries seek pathways to meet climate and development goals. In that context, shared principles can help governments and funders distinguish robust, transparent projects from those that overpromise or shift risks to local communities.

What it could mean on the ground

For policymakers, widely understood principles can guide the design of national strategies, ensure alignment with existing regulations, and set expectations for transparency and monitoring. For project developers and NGOs, a common reference point can clarify roles, strengthen benefit-sharing arrangements, and support long-term stewardship. For investors and buyers, it can provide a clearer signal of quality and help direct finance toward projects that measurably store carbon, protect ecosystems, and respect rights.

The authors’ contribution is to bring these needs together in a concise set of principles tailored to Africa’s context—a region with extraordinary ecological diversity and a rich tapestry of land tenure, community management, and conservation experience.

What to watch next

Adopting principles is only a first step; the test is in implementation. As African governments, regional bodies, and partners consider these recommendations, watch for practical tools, capacity-building, and transparent reporting to translate ideas into action. Sustained collaboration across public, private, and community sectors will be essential to scale high-integrity projects that deliver climate, biodiversity, and livelihood benefits together.

Why this matters

A shared set of principles can steer climate finance toward effective, equitable land-based projects in Africa, ensuring credible carbon benefits while safeguarding people and nature. With clearer expectations, projects are more likely to earn trust, attract long-term investment, and deliver outcomes that endure. That can help align climate goals with local priorities—supporting both resilient ecosystems and resilient communities.

How we wrote this

This article was assisted by AI and reviewed by an editor for accuracy and policy compliance.