R&I into finance and business models is needed to support the development of comparisons of NbS between NbS and “grey” or “hybrid” solutions on timescales compatible with global change, e.g. by helping clarify investment needs through the use of scenarios combining blue-green infrastructure and grey infrastructure or different levels of the implementation of blue-green infrastructure. In addition, advancing the operational understanding of NbS economics appears to be a key component of this lever, from developing financial models for NbS and clarifying NbS benefits in cost-benefit analysis approaches for investment feasibility, to better understanding cost structures and maintenance costs of NbS, or advancing national and EU-wide data and market analyses on emerging and more mature NbS market sectors. More research is needed on how NbS can support the achievement of different sustainability pathways, including those for maximising utility (green economy), those that set minimum and maximum consumption thresholds (degrowth), those that support rights and empowerment of diverse communities (earth stewardship) and those that promote biodiversity conservation.
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