PILLAR 6 | ENVIRONMENT For Nature
Environment refers to the protection, restoration, and responsible management of natural systems — land, water, and atmosphere — that sustain life, ensure ecological balance, and provide the foundation for human well-being. It safeguards biodiversity, prevents environmental degradation, and strengthens resilience against human, climate and disaster risks. The environment underpins health, livelihoods, and cultural identity, making its stewardship essential to both present stability and future sustainability.
This pillar encompasses three core domains: Land Protection, which conserves and restores terrestrial ecosystems while managing waste and materials responsibly; Water Protection, which secures clean water sources, aquatic ecosystems, and coastal zones from pollution and overuse; and Atmospheric Protection, which monitors and regulates air quality, emissions, and climate systems to ensure public health and climate resilience. Together, these domains preserve natural resources, support disaster preparedness, and sustain the ecological systems upon which societies and economies depend. Each domain relies on environmental data infrastructure — including sensor networks, satellite observation, and environmental statistics — to support early warning, policy evaluation, and adaptive management.
Environmental Domains
This pillar encompasses three core domains. Select a card below to review its definition, key characteristics, and examples.
Land Protection refers to the conservation, restoration, and responsible management of terrestrial ecosystems to preserve biodiversity, prevent environmental degradation, and ensure the health and sustainability of soil, vegetation, and natural habitats. Land protection activities support ecosystem services such as carbon storage, flood prevention, erosion control, and wildlife conservation. These efforts are essential for safeguarding ecological integrity, cultural landscapes, and long-term land productivity, and include functions such as contaminated site remediation, waste reduction, and responsible materials recovery.
Water Protection refers to the safeguarding and restoration of freshwater and marine ecosystems to maintain clean water supplies, support biodiversity, and ensure sustainable access for ecological, cultural, and human needs. This includes protecting watersheds, rivers, lakes, wetlands, and coastal zones from pollution, overuse, and ecological degradation. Water protection is essential to public health, environmental resilience, and long-term sustainability.
Atmospheric Protection refers to the monitoring, regulation, and safeguarding of air quality and atmospheric systems to ensure clean, breathable air, climate stability, and weather safety. This includes efforts to control air pollutants, monitor climate conditions, and manage risks associated with changing weather patterns and emissions. Atmospheric protection is critical to public health, environmental quality, and climate resilience.