Green Synergies in Municipalities: Applying nature-based solutions in cities

Polish Climate Congress 2024

Presentation: Interview
Date: 19 June 2024
Interview: Ewa Iwaszuk

The podcast "Polski Kongres Klimatyczny 2024" features highlights from the discussion that took place at the Polish Climate Congress in March 2024. In the podcast, Ewa Iwaszuk, Fellow at Ecologic Institute, discusses the importance of "green synergy" in municipal cooperation and emphasizes the role of nature-based solutions (NbS) in the development of sustainable cities. Ewa Iwaszuk highlighted how the work of Ecologic Institute and its partners supports cities to effectively integrate these approaches into their infrastructure projects in order to tackle climate change and improve quality of life.

Ewa Iwaszuk explained that co-operation between different municipal departments is crucial to successfully implement sustainable, environmentally friendly projects. She explained how Ecologic Institute contributes to the promotion of NBS through research and consultancy and emphasized the need to involve all stakeholders in the process.

The discussion shows that the integration of NBS into urban planning offers not only environmental benefits, but also has a positive impact on social and economic aspects. Ewa Iwaszuk sees this as an important step for the future of sustainable urban development.

Interview with Ewa Iwaszuk: Green synergies and nature-based solutions

Co-creating Nature-based Solutions with Commonly Excluded Stakeholders

Insights from practice and research

Presentation:Speech

As cities across Europe face increasing pressure from climate risks such as heatwaves and flooding, digital platforms are becoming key enablers of effective and inclusive adaptation planning. The Adaptation AGORA webinar, hosted by Stockholm Environment Institute, brought together over 100 participants to explore three leading platforms that support nature-based solutions (NbS) in urban contexts. Natalia Burgos Cuevas, Fellow at Ecologic Institute, presented the Urban Governance Atlas – an interactive online database of over 250 policy instruments that support NbS and ecosystem restoration across Europe, Latin America, and beyond.

Digital Tools for Urban Climate Adaptation

22 May 2025
Natalia Burgos Cuevas

Publication:Report

Urban community garden with a colorful sign reading 'Cosechando Comunidad' (Harvesting Community), part of the INTERLACE project publication cover titled 'Locally rooted, globally connected' about Europe–Latin America knowledge exchange in urban ecosystem restoration.

The publication “Locally rooted, globally connected” captures key lessons learned from the knowledge exchanges in the context of the transdisciplinary research and international cooperation between cities, researchers, city networks, and wider stakeholders from Europe and Latin America conducted in the frames of the INTERLACE project. Through partnerships across the two regions, the project highlighted both the opportunities and challenges of working across diverse cultural, institutional, and geographic contexts and demonstrated the importance of tailoring NbS to local contexts while balancing the need for comparability across regions.

Locally Rooted, Globally Connected

Lessons from Europe-Latin America knowledge exchanges in a transdisciplinary research project

Year 2025

Publication:Document

Stories have the unique potential to inspire change, shape perceptions, and foster understanding across diverse audiences. This collection of stories, developed as part of the INTERLACE project, aims to convey the profound emotional and cultural importance natural surroundings have for local communities and showcase the power of collective action.

Stories of Justice in Action

Learning from the INTERLACE project

Year 2025

Publication:Report

This report from the INTERLACE project examines the co-creation of governance instruments with partner cities, offering insights into the collaborative development of policies and tools that support the implementation of nature-based solutions (NbS). Developed through structured exchanges with city representatives and guided by the expertise of the project task team, the report sheds light on both the challenges and practicalities of co-creating governance frameworks for urban ecosystem restoration.

Insight notes on co-producing value-added governance instruments for restorative NbS

Milestone 2.3

Year 2024

Publication:Report

Nature-based solutions (NbS) aim to improve the world for everyone, which means ensuring that vulnerable groups, such as women, children, migrants, and people with disabilities, benefit alongside other social groups. This report, part of the INTERLACE project, assesses how these groups have been included in the planning and implementation of project activities, offering valuable insights for future NBS initiatives and research.

Ethics, Gender and Diversity Monitoring in INTERLACE

Summary report

Year 2025

Publication:Article

The INTERLACE project, funded by Horizon 2020, exemplifies innovative transdisciplinary approaches to tackling urban challenges through nature-based solutions (NBS). By fostering stakeholder engagement, developing practical tools, and supporting ecosystem restoration, the project empowers cities across Europe and Latin America to implement sustainable NBS. McKenna Davis and Benedict Buebfrom Ecologic Institute provided key insights into the project's progress and outcomes.

Nature-based Solutions to Urban Challenges

Year 2024

Publication:Report

Der Bericht "Integrating Nature-Based Solutions in Policy and Planning. Findings and Lessons from INTERLACE Cities" (dt.: Erkenntnisse und Lektionen aus den INTERLACE-Städten), fasst die Erfahrungen der sieben Partnerstädte in Europa und Lateinamerika zusammen. Er richtet sich an politische Entscheidungsträger:innen und Stadtplaner:innen, die naturbasierte Lösungen (NbS) systematisch in ihre städtischen Planungs- und Governance-Strukturen einbinden möchten. Dabei betont die Publikation die Bedeutung inklusiver Beteiligungsprozesse sowie den Einsatz moderner Daten- und Finanzierungsinstrumente, um NbS auf eine breitere Ebene zu skalieren.

Integrating Nature-Based Solutions in Policy and Planning

Findings and Lessons from INTERLACE Cities

Year 2024

Publication:Report

The report ‘From Ideas to Action’ presents the strategy papers of the seven INTERLACE partner cities, which were developed in close cooperation with local stakeholders in Europe and Latin America. These papers highlight tailor-made strategies for nature-based solutions (NbS), including the revitalisation of urban parks in Chemnitz and the development of a search engine for green infrastructure projects in Kraków. The aim is to effectively address the unique challenges of each city, such as climate change, biodiversity loss and social inequality.

From Ideas to Action

INTERLACE impulses for successfully implementing NbS in cities

Year 2024

Event: Polski Kongres Klimatyczny 2024: Zielona synergia w samorządach: stosowanie rozwiązań opartych na przyrodzie w m…
Interview: Ewa Iwaszuk
Date: 19 June 2024
Language: Polish
Project: International Cooperation to Restore and Connect Urban Environments in Latin America and Europe (INTERLACE)
Project ID: 33001
Keywords: Cities

Nature-based Solutions and Green Infrastructure

Green synergy, nature-based solutions, NbS, Polski Kongres Klimatyczny 2024, sustainable urban development, municipal co-operation, climate-friendly infrastructure, climate adaptation cities, urban planning, green infrastructure

Poland

Further Links

EventDigital EventGreen Deal – Big Deal for Youth?

Ursula von der Leyen (President of the European Commission) described the European Green Deal as "Europe's man-on-the-moon moment". With this plan, the European Union aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, protect and enhance nature, and sustainably transform the... Read more

Digital Event:Green Deal – Big Deal for Youth?

Date: 21 November 2022
Location: online

ProjectClimate Mitigation Through Nature-Based-Solutions in Urban Poland - Fostering Awareness and Capacity (ClimateNBS Polska)

Many Polish cities are undergoing intense development, which is placing investment pressure on undeveloped land. Individual sites would be able to deliver on urban climate change mitigation and reduce GHG emissions, with the resulting social, economic and environmental... Read more

Climate Mitigation Through Nature-Based-Solutions in Urban Poland - Fostering Awareness and Capacity (ClimateNBS Polska)

Duration: Nov 2018 - Nov 2020
Funding: Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), Germany

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Germany

ProjectClimate Mitigation Through Nature-Based-Solutions in Urban Poland - Fostering Awareness and Capacity (ClimateNBS Polska)

Climate Mitigation Through Nature-Based-Solutions in Urban Poland - Fostering Awareness and Capacity (ClimateNBS Polska)

Duration: Nov 2018 - Nov 2020
Funding: Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), Germany

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Germany

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.

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.

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

CLEVER Cities Factsheet 2

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.

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

In this report, Doris Knoblauch, Sandra Naumann, Linda Mederake and Ariel Carlos Araujo Sosa (all Ecologic Institute) explore the extent to which current policy frameworks support sustainable urban development and nature-based solutions (NBS). To this end, policies... Read more

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.