Exploring innovative Nature-based Solutions and Green Infrastructure strategies

The GreenScape CE project has recently developed two key reports designed to foment the implementation of Nature-based Solutions (NBS) and Green Infrastructure (GI) in urban areas. These documents provide practical guidance for municipalities and varied stakeholders interested in enhancing urban resilience and sustainability.

Deliverable D2.1.2: Summary report on good practice examples of NBS/GI financing in the EU

This report offers a comprehensive overview of traditional and innovative financial mechanisms for implementing NBS and GI that can be used by municipalities. To facilitate the document’s use, detailed case studies from European cities are also presented, showcasing the application of these mechanisms.

The catalogue focuses on financing mechanisms from the perspective of city governments, categorising them based on the premise that a municipality has two main alternatives for increasing NBS in urban settings:

• Directly implement NBS projects or maintain existing ones (especially on municipality-owned land). In this scenario, funding can come from municipal budgets, loans, or project revenues.
• Encourage third-party actors (e.g., residents, utilities, businesses) to implement NBS (particularly on their private property) or contribute to maintaining existing NBS in the public domain. Here, local authorities incentivize stakeholders or stimulate private financing through other means.

Deliverable D2.1.3: Overview of socio-economic long-term benefits of GI/NBS

This document introduces a set of evaluation indicators to assess the benefits and eventual drawbacks of NBS in urban areas. The indicators address four main thematic areas:

• Human health and well-being
• Economic impacts
• Environmental benefits
• Social benefits

Although the deliverable was designed for application in the project pilot cities (i.e., Milan Metropolitan Area, Ptuj, Szeged, Warsaw, and Zagreb), the indicators can support different cities in measuring impacts and making informed decisions. The document also includes tailored recommendations for scaling up NBS projects.

The two reports are the result of the collaboration of the partners involved in the GreenScape CE project. Etifor, as the principal author of these reports, has long been committed to promoting sustainable solutions for urban resilience. Through its Nature Governance services, Etifor supports municipalities and stakeholders in integrating Nature-based Solutions and Green Infrastructure into local planning, fostering both environmental and socio-economic benefits.

The two reports are the result of the collaboration of the partners involved in the GreenScape CE project. Etifor, as the principal author of these reports, has long been committed to promoting sustainable solutions for urban resilience. Through its Nature Governance services, Etifor supports municipalities and stakeholders in integrating Nature-based Solutions and Green Infrastructure into local planning, fostering both environmental and socio-economic benefits.