@article{article_1651398, title={Nature-Based Solutions: Innovation or Rhetoric?}, journal={Uluslararası Bilim Teknoloji ve Tasarım Dergisi}, volume={6}, pages={34–54}, year={2025}, author={Zeybek, Osman}, keywords={Doğa temelli çözümler, iklim değişikliğine uyum, kentsel sürdürülebilirlik, çevresel yönetişim, yeşil aklama, politika ve uygulama, sürdürülebilirlik retoriği}, abstract={Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) have gained significant traction in environmental research and policy as a promising approach to address climate change, biodiversity loss, and urban sustainability. However, despite the rapid increase in academic publications on NBS, there remains a critical gap between theory and practice. This study critically examines the evolution of NBS research using a systematic analysis of Web of Science publications. This research reveal that much of the literature is dominated by policy frameworks and conceptual discussions, with limited empirical validation and large-scale implementation studies. The thematic analysis of abstracts indicates that NBS research primarily focuses on climate change adaptation, urban infrastructure, water and flood management, ecosystem conservation, policy governance, and social equity. However, many studies lack quantifiable assessments of NBS effectiveness, raising concerns about whether the concept is a genuine innovation or merely rhetorical reinforcement of existing sustainability narratives. Furthermore, the increasing commercialization of NBS, particularly through corporate greenwashing and unregulated financial mechanisms, threatens to dilute its ecological and social impact. This study argues that for NBS to transition from a theoretical construct to an impactful environmental solution, it requires a stronger emphasis on empirical research, standardized evaluation criteria, large-scale implementation strategies, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Without these measures, NBS risks becoming another symbolic sustainability trend rather than a transformative approach to environmental resilience and social equity.}, number={1}, publisher={Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi}