What are Co-Benefits?

The term co-benefits originated from the fields of environmental sustainability and climate change in the 1980s and 1990s. Co-benefits refer to the positive side effects or additional advantages that arise from climate and environmental interventions. For example, a project aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions might also improve air quality, public health, or economic resilience.

Co-benefits are not limited to the environment. They can span multiple sectors, including healthcare, urban planning, poverty reduction, and social equity. This concept has gained global recognition as a "win-win" or "no-regret" approach, reflecting the idea that these interventions yield dividends across various dimensions of society.

What is Multi-Solving?

Multi-solving is a complementary concept which refers to strategies or intentional actions that simultaneously address multiple issues, leading to a wider range of positive outcomes. This concept is particularly relevant when tackling complex, systemic challenges, such as climate change or socio-economic inequities. Multi-solving encourages cross-sectoral collaboration to maximize impact, delivering both environmental, social and/or economic returns on investment. 

Co-Benefits/Multi-solving Documents and Resources