Nature-based Urban Innovation

Nature-based solutions (NBS) are actions which are inspired and supported by nature. They have the potential to address urban challenges, as climate change, in a sustainable way while contributing to economic activities and social well-being. Examples are parks that reduce heat stress and provide recreation areas, green roofs, wetlands and ponds that holds storm water and permeable surfaces, vegetation and rain gardens that infiltrate storm water. To unlock the potential of NBS for sustainable urban development, NATURVATION takes a transdisciplinary, internationally comparative approach to capture the multiple impacts and values of these solutions. The project has three main objectives: advance assessment approaches, enable innovations and realise the potential of NBS. NATURVATION will overcome implementation gaps by building momentum of NBS through creation of new partnerships, knowledge platforms, processes and tools required to support policy, business and civil society organisations in cities across European.

NATure-based URban innoVATION is a 4-year project involving 14 institutions across Europe in the fields of urban development, geography, innovation studies and economics. We are creating a step-change in how we understand and use nature-based solutions for sustainable urbanisation.