Urban areas across the globe are facing unprecedented challenges, including urban sprawl, pollution, and the increasing impacts of climate change. To help address these pressing issues, the INTERLACE project announced the launch of a new, free Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) titled: "Nature-based solutions: How nature restoration can make more livable, biodiverse, and climate resilient neighbourhoods". The course was introduced in a launch webinar on 8 October 2024.

Agenda

The launch webinar introduced the course, which is designed to support urban practitioners, decision-makers, and others in the design, implementation, and evaluation of inclusive Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) in cities worldwide. Participants gained insights into the course’s seven modules, which draw on research and resources from the INTERLACE project. The webinar helped attendees understand key course topics, such as:

• What do nature-based solutions look like in practice?
• How can NbS be designed, planned, implemented, governed, monitored, and maintained?
• How can citizens and stakeholders be engaged in co-creative processes alongside municipal actors?

A Practical, Global Approach

Tailored for practitioners and decision-makers, the course emphasized a hands-on approach by combining theory with real-world examples. Developed in collaboration with the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) platform, the MOOC was part of global efforts to integrate nature-based solutions into urban planning. By focusing on overcoming common barriers to NbS implementation, the course offered practical tools and case studies that were directly applicable to diverse urban contexts.