Nature-based Adaptation Costing Tools

The “Nature-based Adaptation Cost Estimator (NACE)” was developed as a collaborative project between the New Brunswick Environmental Network (NBEN) and CLIMAtlantic. It was created as a simpler version of the existing costing tool to help make adaptation planning more accessible.

The “Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) Tool for Nature-based solutions” was the first to be developed. The goal was to help municipalities and decision-makers in Atlantic Canada understand and assess the economic and environmental benefits of nature-based projects. The tool was based on the “Framework for Assessing the Costs and Benefits of Nature-Based Climate Solutions in Atlantic Canada” prepared by Green Analytics. In 2023, PanChroma adapted the tool into a web-based format for the NBEN.

While this original tool is well-suited for technical users, the development of this simpler version, NACE, allows for a wider user base. NACE is designed to be easy to use, even if you are new to nature-based strategies or project costing. It provides a simple, self-guided way to explore cost estimates for nature-based projects, understand their potential co-benefits, and learn about possible grey infrastructure alternatives.

Simplification of a complex calculation

NACE is intentionally simple and easy to use. Because of this, it does not provide a detailed assessment of long-term costs such as operating and maintenance expenses. These costs can be significant and are important to consider. NACE focuses mainly on capital costs, such as construction and implementation. Where available, the project descriptions also provide general information on typical maintenance needs, operating costs, or the expected lifespan of green and grey infrastructure.

NACE also includes a section that explains the differences between capital cost and operational costs, how these can change over time, and the typical design life of grey and green infrastructure. For a more detailed assessment of long-term costs the advanced version of the tool is recommended.

Project categories

There are different adaptation approaches that communities can use to manage climate change impacts in risk prone areas:

• Avoid: ensuring that there is no development in the at-risk areas, future at-risk areas and in areas that act as buffer zones (e.g., wetlands or forested lands).
• Accommodate: make changes to the existing property, infrastructure or activity itself (e.g., backflow valves to prevent sewage from entering houses during flood events)
• Retreat: remove the people, property, and infrastructure from the at-risk area (e.g., moving a building out of a flood zone to higher ground)
• Protect: make changes to protect existing activities, property, and infrastructure (e.g., barriers to flooding).

The nature-based project categories in the BCA and NACE tools focus primarily on protection approaches.

They do not cover other important adaptation considerations like land-use planning, habitat conservation or watershed-scale approaches (see important considerations section for more information). Many of these options can still be important and should be considered as part of a broader adaptation strategy.

Land-use, conservation and watershed-scale options

Climate adaptation is about more than building protective infrastructure. Land-use planning, conservation and watershed-scale approaches can also help reduce climate risks.

Land-use tools guide where and how development takes place. They can help prevent or reduce exposure to hazards. To learn more, see CLIMAtlantic’s Land Use Planning Tools & Adaptation Options, which includes more than 50 land use planning tools for coastal climate change adaptation.

Conservation measures focus on protecting existing natural habitats to reduce climate risks while maintaining ecological, cultural, and recreational benefits.

Watershed-scale interventions take into account how conditions upstream can affect risks downstream. For example, protecting and restoring forests, wetlands and floodplains can help hold water upstream, reducing the amount of water flowing downstream to rivers which lowers flood risks. Because natural systems cross property and municipal boundaries, watershed-scale approaches often require cooperation between municipalities, landowners and different sectors.

Maladaptation

Adaptation projects are meant to reduce climate risks, but poorly designed projects can sometimes create new problems. This is known as maladaptation.

For example, a project could:

• Shift flood risk to neighboring area,
• Damage local ecosystems, or
• Create costly long-term maintenance needs over time

It is important to look at how a local adaptation project could impact the wider natural system. In other words, a measure that reduces risk in one location could unintentionally increase risk somewhere else.

To avoid maladaptation:

• Look at potential unintended consequences and how to avoid them
• Evaluate the long-term effectiveness and impacts of proposed measures
• Develop a strategy that considers multiple measures
• Talk with professionals, communities and other stakeholders
• Define and compare different adaptation options, including combinations of grey and green approaches