NATURVATION

This report highlights the key stepping stones necessary for mainstreaming urban nature-based solutions, focusing on climate change and biodiversity. Drawing on research from several countries, including the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, Hungary, and the European Union, the report identifies 20 pivotal actions that can overcome barriers and capitalize on opportunities for implementing and maintaining nature-based solutions in cities.

Here are some of the key stepping stones identified:

1. Create intermediaries: Establish new organizational forms to bridge institutional silos within public and private sector organizations, fostering coordination and innovation.
2. Generate partnerships: Foster partnerships between public, private, and third-sector organizations to co-design, develop, and maintain urban nature-based solutions.
3. Establish demonstration projects: Initiate demonstration or pilot projects to showcase the feasibility and benefits of nature-based solutions, fostering shared learning and confidence among stakeholders.
4. Engage the insurance sector: Involve the insurance sector to support scaling up urban nature-based solutions based on their risk reduction needs and expertise in assessing damage costs.
5. Facilitate community-based action: Support community-based initiatives for local urban nature-based solutions by raising citizen awareness and providing incentives.
6. Provide economic incentives: Offer economic incentives to stimulate demand for nature-based solutions projects and encourage community engagement.
7. Develop markets: Position nature-based solutions as sustainable solutions with societal and reputational benefits to stimulate demand and supply.
8. Build co-financing arrangements: Establish governance arrangements between the public and private sectors to enable co-funding for the development and maintenance of nature-based solutions.
9. Work with investment cycles: Integrate nature-based solutions into infrastructure projects and renovation cycles to enhance functionality and cost-effectiveness.
10. Stimulate institutional investment for risk reduction: Encourage institutional investment in nature-based solutions by highlighting their value in climate risk reduction.

These stepping stones can generate significant change individually and have even greater impact when aligned with others. By aligning stepping stones, pathways for mainstreaming nature-based solutions can be created, contributing to diverse urban sustainability agendas. However, the relevance and importance of specific stepping stones may vary depending on the sustainability challenges being addressed. Therefore, efforts to mainstream nature-based solutions must be built on stepping stones that are effective across multiple sustainability goals.

Sources:
https://naturvation.eu/system/files/pathways_for_systemic_integration_of_nbs_report.pdf