Ecologic Institute and Ecorys are working hand in hand to support the Mission Soil by identifying key stakeholders who take ownership, building their commitment, and creating a network of Mission Soil Ambassadors. Our efforts are reflected in the latest fact sheet, which shows more individuals and organisations joining in to endorse the Mission Soil Manifesto and promote healthier soil. The manifesto is a call to action for regional and local policymakers, citizens, and various stakeholders like farmers, educators, and companies to come together voluntarily and focus on improving soil health. Those who sign up commit to raising awareness, encouraging innovation, and taking practical steps to protect and restore soil, all without any legal obligations.

On 15 May 2024, the INTERLACE project organised a city network exchange event titled "City Networks as Change Catalyzers: Strategies to Drive Action Around Nature-Based Solutions in Municipalities."  Hosted by the INTERLACE partner United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) and co-organised by Ecologic Institute and Climate Alliance, the event brought together over 20 esteemed city network representatives from Europe and Latin America to discuss opportunities and strategies for supporting nature-based solutions.

The negotiations of the Carbon Removals Certification Framework (CRCF) have put EU climate policies at a critical juncture. These negotiations raise some essential questions concerning the further development of EU climate policy.

As the INTERLACE project concludes, we invite you to a final CITIES TALK NATURE webinar to reflect on the project's impact and ensure a continued legacy. This session will showcase key resources and empower cities, local stakeholders, and the research community to continue to drive the long-term adoption of nature-based solutions (NbS).

Urban water management is facing new challenges due to climate change. Intensified precipitation is putting additional stress on stormwater systems, leading to increased flood risks, more frequent combined sewer overflows (CSOs), and resultant risks to public health and urban biodiversity. These topics are addressed in a new publication co-authored by Gregory Fuchs and McKenna Davis of Ecologic Institute entitled 'Sitting in our own soup? Combined sewers, climate change and nature-based solutions for urban water management in Berlin.'

McKenna Davis, Senior Fellow at Ecologic Institute and Coordinator of Nature-based Solutions, held a keynote at the online webinar ‘Engaging the public in GBGI projects’, where she spoke about inclusive governance and how to learn from real world policy practices to support co-governance in practice. She also presented the Urban Governance Atlas.

The INTERLACE project, coordinated by Ecologic Institute, has published the "Guidance on Gender, Cultural, and Ethical Considerations" to support inclusive, transparent, and fair stakeholder participation. The document provides practical recommendations and measurable indicators to help project partners integrate gender, cultural, and ethical considerations into their activities.

The report "Governance Analysis for Planning and Implementation of Urban NBS" presents insights from a governance analysis conducted in the six INTERLACE partner cities: CBIMA (Costa Rica), Chemnitz (Germany), Envigado (Colombia), Granollers (Spain), Metropolia Krakowska (Poland), and Portoviejo (Ecuador). The analysis examines existing governance structures, policymaking and implementation practices, as well as challenges and enabling factors for advancing Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in urban areas.

This report, funded by the European Climate Foundation (ECF), examines the assumptions for industrial carbon removals in the European Commission's 2040 Climate Target Impact Assessment. It focuses on the deployment of industrial carbon removal technologies and their resource demands.

The infographic illustrates the key hydrological parameters that influence the water balance in ecosystems. The water cycle is illustrated, starting with precipitation through various phases such as evaporation, transpiration, surface runoff, seepage water movements and the recharge of groundwater. These processes are fundamental to understanding water cycles and their significance for the environment and climate. The visualization makes it clear how precipitation is filtered through the different earth layers and ultimately contributes to the replenishment of groundwater.

This study assesses the progress of EU Member States in embedding participatory governance processes to foster transformative climate governance. Through comprehensive criteria-based analysis and in-depth interviews across several nations, this publication unveils the current state of MLCED implementation, challenges in stakeholder engagement, and the adequacy of mechanisms designed to steer us towards a climate-neutral future.

On 24 January 2024, participants joined this webinar to find out what design competitions, 3D printers and beauty have to do with Europe’s journey to becoming a climate-neutral continent?

This report discusses the potential role of green hydrogen in achieving a climate-neutral economy, focusing on sectors where electrification is challenging. It highlights the necessity for green hydrogen to be produced using renewable energy to align with climate neutrality goals. The report outlines necessary components for establishing a global market, including tracking systems, standards, and governance mechanisms to ensure compliance and foster international trade.

This UNITED report provides an economic assessment framework aimed at guiding the evaluation of multi-use platforms in European seas. It focuses on assessing financial costs, revenues, and the economic efficiency of integrating various maritime activities. The goal is to understand the viability and added value of combining different uses, such as aquaculture, renewable energy, and tourism, within the same marine space, emphasizing sustainability and economic growth.

The UNITED project report "Business Analysis of UNITED Pilots" provides a detailed business analysis of the various pilot projects. This analysis includes an assessment of the economic viability, SWOT and PESTEL analyses as well as a review of the financial aspects of the projects. The aim of the report is to assess the financial attractiveness and feasibility of multi-use concepts in European marine areas, with a particular focus on the synergies and challenges arising from the combination of different maritime activities.