<p>Nature-based solutions (NbS) are fast becoming the norm for multifunctional climate adaptation to the combined challenges of increased sea-level rise, coastal population densities, and erosion of sandy shores worldwide, delivering functions such as flood prevention, recreation, and biodiversity benefits. However, it remains a challenge to the research field to inform decision-makers well on the outcomes and trade-offs of designing, planning, and managing the multifunctional NbS. <span>This study set out to identify the information requirements by decision-makers on </span>NbS for coastal climate adaptation.<span> </span>Using the Sand Motor in The Netherlands as a case study, we applied a policy science framework to distinguish four stages of decision-making to quantitatively analyse the content of functions and indicators utilized per stage in public policy documents. These stages are the ambition, political, bureaucratic, and provisioning processes. <span>This study is the first comprehensive empirical investigation distinguishing these crucial stages of decision-making to analyse </span>NbS information requirements.<span> </span>Our results show, most notably, that as the project developed through the decision-making stages, the content of the functions and indicators changed from abstract to concrete. And, with it, the content of the information required shifted significantly.<span> </span>These results suggest that it is crucial for academic researchers to recognize the decision-making process their information will be used in and adapt its content and level of abstraction accordingly to increase its uptake in decision-making.<span> This study lays the groundwork for future research into the multiple dimensions of </span>NbS decision-making and for the increased understanding of the information requirements on evaluation and trade-offs in planning, designing, and managing NbS, to increase the ability of NbS to deliver multifunctional coastal climate adaptation for sandy shores worldwide.</p>

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