Nature-Based Solutions in Europe: Policy, Knowledge and Practice for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction

EEA Report No 1/2021

Publication: Report
Citation: Castellari,S and Davis, M (2021). “Global and European policy frameworks”. Nature-based solutions in Europe: Policy, knowledge and practice for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. EEA Report No 1/2021.

Climate change, biodiversity loss and degradation of ecosystems are linked and all have devastating consequences for our economic and social stability, health and well-being. Working with nature is increasingly recognised as an efficient way to tackle these growing challenges, according the new European Environment Agency (EEA) report 'Nature-based solutions in Europe: Policy, knowledge and practice for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction.'

This EEA report, which Ecologic Institute's McKenna Davis co-authored, provides up-to-date information for policymakers on the how to apply nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction and at the same time making use of multiple societal benefits that these solutions can bring. Drawing on selected examples across Europe, the report shows how impacts of extreme weather and climate-related events are already tackled in this way. It also assesses global and European policies and how nature-based solutions are increasingly being integrated in the efforts to shift towards sustainable development.

How nature can protect us

Many countries are already restoring nature in river valleys and uplands to reduce downstream flooding risks. In coastal regions, natural vegetation helps to stabilise coastlines, while re-forestation is increasingly used for storing carbon. Nature is also brought back into cities by greening urban spaces or reopening old canals or rivers, which increases resilience to heatwaves and brings additional health and wellbeing benefits. Despite their increasing prominence, nature-based solutions could be mainstreamed further, the report notes.

Other key findings of the report

An EU-wide mapping of existing and potential nature-based solutions can help to identify priority areas for enhancing ecosystem services and addressing climate change and biodiversity loss concerns.

Agreed standards, quantitative targets, measurable indicators and evaluation tools for nature-based solutions at EU level can help to assess progress, effectiveness and multiple benefits.

As nature-based solutions depend on healthy ecosystems, which are themselves vulnerable to climate change, their potential for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction may decline in the future.

Stakeholder involvement, dialogue and co-design of tools and measures are key to increase awareness, to resolve potential stakeholders' conflicts and to create social acceptance and demand for nature-based solutions.

Further implementation of nature-based solutions to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction in Europe requires development of technical standards, increased knowledge of potential trade-offs, collaborative governance, capacity building and sufficient funding.

Building Climate Resilience through Nature-based Solutions in Europe

A review of enabling knowledge, finance and governance frameworks

Year 2022

Project

The goal of the European Environment Agency's European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity (ETC-BD) is to collect and monitor data on biodiversity as well as issues and ecological pressures related to biodiversity. This data is used to establish the state of Europe's ecosystems to support the assessment, development, and implementation of EU policies such as the Habitats Directive. Ecologic Institute is supporting the ETC-BD with data collection and assessment on ecosystem status and mapping, policy analysis, and monitoring. Ecologic Institute is also conducting multiple assessments to contribute to the European Environment Agency's assessment reports.

European Topic Center on Biological Diversity (ETC/BD) 2014-2018

Jan 2014 - Dec 2018

Language

English

Authorship

McKenna Davis

Credits

Lead authors

Sergio Castellari (EEA), Marianne Zandersen (ETC/CCA; Aarhus University and Aarhus University Interdisciplinary Centre for Climate Change, iClimate), McKenna Davis (European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity, ETC/BD, and Ecologic Institute), Clara Veerkamp (ETC/CCA and PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency), Johannes Förster (ETC/CCA and Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research — UFZ), Mika Marttunen (ETC/CCA and Finnish Environment Institute, SYKE), Jaroslav Mysiak (ETC/CCA and Euro-Mediterranean Centre on Climate Change, CMCC and Ca' Foscari University Venice), Marie Vandewalle (ETC/CCA and Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research — UFZ), Silvia Medri (ETC/CCA and CMCC), José Ramón Picatoste (EEA

Funding

European Environment Agency (EEA), International

Published by

European Environment Agency (EEA), International

Year

2021

Dimension

164 pp.

ISBN

978-92-9480-362-7

ISSN

1977-844

DOI

10.2800/919315

Project

European Topic Center on Biological Diversity (ETC/BD) 2014-2018

Project ID

Table of contents

Click to show full table of contents

Contents

Acknowledgements

Key messages .

Executive summary

1 Introduction

1.1 Rationale and aim

1.2 Nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction

1.3 Nature-based solutions and societal challenges

1.4 Structure of the report

2 Global and European policy frameworks

2.1 Approach

2.2 Global policy framework

2.3 EU policy framework

2.4 Gaps, barriers and opportunities

3 Knowledge base on nature‑based solutions for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction

3.1 Climate hazards for selected European sectors and thematic areas

3.2 Climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction and nature-based solutions

3.3 Multiple benefits of nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction

3.4 Opportunities for implementing nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction

3.5 Limitations of nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction

3.6 Water management and nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction

3.7 Forests and forestry and nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction

3.8 Agriculture and nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction

3.9 Urban areas and nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction

3.10Coastal areas and nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction

3.11 Knowledge gaps and research needs

4 An analysis of practical uses of nature‑based solutions for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction in Europe

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Review and examples of analysed cases

5 Financing nature-based solutions

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Economic policy instruments

5.3 Insurance-related instruments

5.4 Debt and equity instruments

5.5 Business model innovation

5.6 European funds

6 Conclusions

6.1 Global and EU policy frameworks

6.2 Improving the knowledge base

6.3 Challenges for the implementation

6.4 Financing the implementation

6.5 Knowledge platforms

Abbreviations and symbols.

References

Annex 1 Links to EEA activities

Annex 2 Overview of the key climate hazards identified for Europe

Annex 3 The selected cases of nature‑based solutions in Europe

Annex 4 Descriptions of the example cases of nature‑based solutions in Europe

A4.1 Brague case (France): flash flooding and wildfire hazards in a Mediterranean catchment

A4.2 Serchio river basin case (Italy): floods and drought risks in a Mediterranean basin

A4.3 LIFE Resilient Forest case (Germany, Portugal and Spain): coupling water, fire and climate resilience with biomass production in forestry to adapt watersheds to climate change

A4.4 Agroforestry case (France): increasing resilience and productivity

A4.5 Tullstorpsån 2.0 case (Sweden): adapting agriculture to wetter and drier climates

A4.6 Paludiculture case (Germany): peatland restoration for climate change mitigation and adaptation

A4.7 Blue-green corridors case (Belgrade, Serbia): mitigating natural hazards and restoration of urbanised areas

A4.8 Green roof case (Hamburg, Germany): combining regulation, dialogue, incentives and science

A4.9 Ugento case (Italy): using beached leaves of Posidonia (seagrass) to protect dunes

A4.10 Hermes case (Albania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece): a harmonised framework to mitigate coastal erosion

A4.11 Terracing in mountains (France and Spain): preventing landslides with old techniques

Annex 5 Knowledge platforms addressing nature‑based solutions for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction at European and national levels

A5.1 Introduction

A5.2 Overview of relevant platforms

Annex 6 Glossary

Keywords

Biodiversity

Cities

Nature-based Solutions and Green Infrastructure

nature-based solutions, cities, urban, governance, innovation, transition, disaster risk reduction, green infrastructure, ecosystem-based management, sustainable forest management, natural water retention measures, EU

Europe

Further Links

EventDiscussionNature-based Solutions and Multi-level Governance for Carbon-neutral and Resilient Cities and Regions

On Saturday, 8 December 2018, Ecologic Institute hosted a side event in the EU Pavilion at the COP24 in Katowice (Poland), in cooperation with ICLEI Europe. Invited practitioners and experts discussed the role nature-based solutions (NBS) and multi-level governance play... Read more

Discussion:Nature-based Solutions and Multi-level Governance for Carbon-neutral and Resilient Cities and Regions

Date: 8 December 2018
Location: Katowice, Poland

EventDigital EventUrban Nature-based Solutions in Germany – experiences, successes and future challenges – Expert workshop

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Digital Event:Urban Nature-based Solutions in Germany – experiences, successes and future challenges – Expert workshop

Date: 5 May 2020
Location: online

NewsFostering a Green Recovery through Nature-based Solutions

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Cities are increasingly recognised as key arenas for governing and tackling global environmental challenges, including the interlinked climate and biodiversity crises. Urban nature-based solutions have the potential to jointly address these issues. However, evidence... Read more

Davis, McKenna, et al., 2021. Urban Nature: A Shared Solution to The Climate And Biodiversity Crises?

PublicationPolicy BriefNature-based Solutions and their Socio-economic Benefits for Europe's Recovery

This policy brief provides an overview of the wide range of socio-economic benefits that nature-based solutions can generate. Co-authors IEEP and Ecologic Institute highlight the central role that such solutions can play in meeting the EU's 2030 commitments on climate... Read more

Kopsieker L., Gerritsen E., Stainforth T., Lucic A., Costa Domingo G., Naumann S., Röschel L. and Davis M. (2021) "Nature-based solutions and their socio-economic benefits for Europe's recovery: Enhancing the uptake of nature-based solutions across EU policies". Policy briefing

NewsAddressing Climate Change in Cities: Order your free copy of the publications

PublicationBookAddressing Climate Change in Cities – Catalogue of urban nature-based solutions

Nature-based solutions (NBS) are solutions that are inspired and supported by nature. They can be used in urban settings to complement or replace "traditional" or "grey" solutions to perform functions, such as thermal insulation and stormwater retention and filtration.... Read more

English version: Iwaszuk, E., Rudik, G., Duin, L., Mederake, L., Davis, M., Naumann, S., Wagner, I., 2019: Addressing Climate Change in Cities. Catalogue of Urban Nature-Based Solutions. Ecologic Institute, the Sendzimir Foundation: Berlin, Krakow.

Polish version: Iwaszuk, E., Rudik, G., Duin, L., Mederake, L., Davis, M., Naumann, S., Wagner, I., 2019: Błękitno-zielona
infrastruktura dla łagodzenia zmian klimatu w miastach. Katalog techniczny. Ecologic Institute, Fundacja Sendzimira: Berlin, Krakow.

PublicationReportAddressing Climate Change in Cities – Policy Instruments to Promote Urban Nature-based Solutions

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Naumann, S., Davis, M., Iwaszuk, E., Freundt, M., Mederake, L., 2020: Addressing climate change in cities – Policy instruments to promote urban nature-based solutions. Ecologic Institute, the Sendzimir Foundation: Berlin, Krakow.

Naumann, S., Davis, M., Iwaszuk, E., Freundt, M., Mederake, L., 2020: Błękitno-zielona infrastruktura dla łagodzenia zmian klimatu w miastach. Narzędzia strategiczne. Ecologic Institute, Fundacja Sendzimira: Berlin, Krakow.

PublicationReportMulti-level Policy Framework for Sustainable Urban Development and Nature-based Solutions – Status quo, gaps and opportunities

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Knoblauch et al. (2019). Multi-level policy framework for sustainable urban development and nature-based solutions -- Status quo, gaps and oppor-tunities. Deliverable 1.2, CLEVER Cities, H2020 grant no. 776604.

PublicationFact SheetGreen Market Opportunities and Business Policies for Urban Nature-based Solutions

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Private businesses lack awareness of market opportunities and appropriate business models for deploying nature-based solutions. This CLEVER Cities factsheet outlines green market opportunities and potential business policies for urban nature-based solutions. The CLEVER... Read more

Green market opportunities and business policies for urban nature-based solutions. Factsheet 2, CLEVER Cities, H2020 grant no. 776604.

PublicationFact SheetKey Barriers to and Factors for Improving the Successful Implementation of Nature-Based Solutions

CLEVER Cities Factsheet 1

This CLEVER Cities factsheet outlines the main barriers and success factors for successful implementation of nature-based solutions. The CLEVER Cities factsheet No 1, edited by Ecologic Institute, is available for download. The full length document "Barriers and... Read more

Grimes, Clara and McKenna Davis (eds.) 2019: Key Barriers to and Factors for Improving the Successful Implementation of Nature-based Solutions. Factsheet 1. European Union's Horizon 2020 innovation action programme under grant agreement No 776604.

PublicationWeb ApplicationUrban Nature Atlas – NATURVATION

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So far, the Urban Nature Atlas has collected evidence on 1000 nature-based solutions (NBS) interventions. With that, it provides the most comprehensive basis for the analysis of socio-economic and innovation patterns associated with urban NBS in Europe. Ecologic... Read more

Ecologic Institute 2018: Urban Nature Atlas – NATURVATION. URL: https://naturvation.eu/atlas