NATALIE addresses the risks posed by climate change and its impacts by advancing the concept of ecosystem-based adaptation in Europe, combined with climate-resilient development pathways. This approach leverages Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) to accelerate and mainstream their adoption, contributing to resilience against climate change—an approach highlighted in the recent IPCC AR6 WGII Report.
The project will deliver practical and innovative solutions through co-creation, stakeholder engagement, modelling, testing, monitoring, and validation mechanisms. These efforts will assist regions and municipalities in planning and developing adaptation actions, providing actionable knowledge and experience for impactful NBS.
To achieve these objectives, NATALIE will develop a transformative NBS booster pack consisting of 25 innovative solutions, which focus on six key levers for transformative change:
• Socially acceptable, smart, and financially innovative solutions
• Societal, stakeholder, and citizen engagement
• Larger systemic solutions at the regional level
• Monitoring, evaluation, and cost-benefit analysis of solutions
• Pre-feasibility studies
• Evidence-based outcomes and recommendations
The main goal is to accelerate the mainstreaming of NBS, fostering ecosystem-based adaptation for regional resilience. The booster innovation package will include:
• Innovative technical, modelling, and IT solutions (including a knowledge booster and digital twin for NBS)
• Governance and policy recommendations at the EU and regional levels
• Financing and public engagement strategies
The project will demonstrate 18 NBS measures across 8 case studies in diverse biogeographical regions of Europe, including Greece, Romania, Latvia, the Canary Islands, Belgium (Flanders), France, Norway, and Italy (Veneto region). Additionally, five follower regions—Iceland, the Balearic Islands, Romania, France, and Lithuania—will also be involved in implementing these solutions.
WE&B is the co-work package leader of the co-creation of transformative solutions and mainstreaming of NBSs
Activities led by WE&B:
• Design and Test the Co-Creation Framework: WE&B developed an analytical, methodological, and practical framework for co-creation of transformative solutions to enhance urban and regional resilience, with a focus on integrating Nature-Based Solutions (NBSs).
• Mature NBS Ecosystems: WE&B Work on advancing NBS ecosystems, improving management readiness levels, and fostering stakeholder engagement and capacity building for NBS integration.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Capacity Building: Facilitate co-creation of NBS solutions through active stakeholder engagement and capacity building efforts.
• Knowledge Needs and Barriers Identification: Identify the knowledge gaps and barriers to NBS implementation, and set up Transformation Labs for stakeholder engagement and solution co-creation.
• Mapping the Stakeholder Landscape: Conduct a Social Network Analysis (SNA) to map the stakeholder landscape and institutional profiles of actors involved in addressing relevant hazards through NBS.
Activities co-led by WE&B:
• Understanding the Stakeholder Landscape: Identify and analyze local, regional, and national stakeholders, their conflicting interests, synergies, and knowledge through qualitative modeling and analysis.
• Engage Multi-Scale Decision Makers: Involve decision makers at various levels in the co-design of NBS interventions to increase readiness and foster resilient partnerships.
• Twinning Activities: Advance twinning activities between CS (Cities) and FLs (Follower Regions) to enhance local capabilities for NBS implementation.
• Governance and Policy Arrangements: Establish governance arrangements and develop policy considerations necessary to implement NBS and overcome barriers through a participatory approach.
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