For centuries, Western civilization has engineered infrastructure that contains and controls nature.
In a recent article, IRIS researchers argue that this dated perspective has gotten us into trouble. In order to survive and hopefully thrive through the many challenges modern society faces, we must work with nature.
The article, “Innovating through Nature-Positive Engineering: How Can We Move Forward?” written by IRIS affiliate Todd Bridges and colleagues Shana Jones and Matt Shudtz at the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, uses the Clean Water Act as an example of how a limited perspective caused many of the challenges that we now face, but successful policy can be enacted to make the sweeping changes we need.
Throughout the paper, they lay out the heart of the issue:
Continued human existence depends on the future of nature’s abundance. Modern societies have been built on an extractive and consumptive model of development. Its continued growth and prosperity, however, depends on our capacity to see nature as more than a resource for extraction, for disposal, and to control.
However, properly valuing nature may be easier said than done. According to the paper, estimates from the United Nations Environment Programme state that $8.1 trillion is required to address the ongoing climate, biodiversity and land degradation crisis. Engineering that is fully centered on nature-positive solutions is the only way to successfully thread the needle of human consumption and a thriving natural world–which humans ultimately require in order to survive.
The paper lays out suggestions for policy and regulation in the nature-based era: they discuss moving beyond minimizing harm, and instead working to promote and enhance the natural environment.
They point to the Clean Water Act’s two-pronged approach as a success–by requiring companies to install state of the art filtration systems, while simultaneously investing in public works infrastructure. They call for a “technology forcing” approach to encourage the adoption of innovative nature-positive infrastructure.
They also call for the same level of investment in the provisions to upgrade public works systems, which called for facilities to use best practices and encouraged them to incorporate open space and recreation into their plans. Long term, this has created cleaner waterways, and a revolving source of funds to help keep them that way. By applying the same level of investment to natural infrastructure, and centering it as a core design element, there is the potential to make significant gains in ecosystem function.
Finally, the authors end on a positive note: the immense opportunity that lies in this innovative way of thinking.
At this moment, as we take the opportunity to reflect on what must be done, we can also be inspired. Nature-positive outcomes are possible. We know what we want – more vibrant, sustainable, and resilient places and ecosystems. It is time to engage in the practices necessary to achieve it.
[Top image: seagulls sit on a beach in front of a large piece of drift wood on Sapelo Island. From the UGA Public Media Library Portal].