Dear all,
Here is Sofie's REA mailing sent out on 7/6.
Best, Nea
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Dear all,
Just like spring, a burst of initiatives and opportunities, hence you are treated to a special early June version of the H2020/HE NBS & Biodiversity update
Amongst others, check out the UNEA resolution on Nature-based Solutions, opportunities to contribute to NBS standardisation process and the Policy Support Facility.
We would like to come back to and highlight the successful adoption of a resolution on Nature-based Solutions (UNEA/EA.5/Res.5)[1] including a multilaterally agreed definition of nature-based solutions (NbS) at the Fifth Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2) ; recognising the important role NbS play in the global response to climate change and its social, economic and environmental effects. Under the resolution, NbS are defined as ‘actions to protect, conserve, restore, sustainably use and manage natural or modified terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems, which address social, economic and environmental challenges effectively and adaptively, while simultaneously providing human well-being, ecosystem services and resilience and biodiversity benefits.’ The UNEA Resolution incorporates the essential components of the EC NBS definition: including, “simultaneously providing environmental, social and economic benefits and help build resilience” and “must also benefit biodiversity and support the delivery of a range of ecosystem services”, ensuring that NBS will be “supported by nature”” and will bring more, and more diverse, nature and natural features and processes into cities, landscapes and seascapes”; as well as other essential principles, including “systemic interventions” , “cost-effective” and “resource-efficient”; and “locally adapted”. Finally, the ‘UNEA resolution also calls on UNEP to support the implementation of NBS, with “next steps” that are of particularly relevant to the work of the H2020 and HE NBS project portfolio: “compile examples of best practices, based on best available science, of nature-based solutions”; ” assess existing and discuss possible new proposals, criteria, standards and guidelines”; “Identify options for supporting sustainable investments in nature-based solutions”. This is great recognition of the importance of the work you’re all doing!
Opportunities
· The H2020 project NetworkNature launched a questionnaire under its current semester on NBS quality and Standards. The questionnaire is divided into 2 parts, one on NBS Quality where the aim is to confirm the relevance of identified features and characteristics of NBS and the main priorities concerning high-quality NBS while for NBS Standards, the answers can be build upon the description and tables provided to delineate standardisable needs for NBS. The results of the questionnaire will feed into the preparation of a knowledge brief/fact sheet about high-quality NBS and will serve as a basis for the preparation of a workshop in July to discuss the NBS Landscape to support standardisation. Please take part and make your voice heard! Open until 15th June.
· Following the publication of the EU Strategy of Adaptation to Climate Change in 2021, the European Commission launched at the end of last year the Policy Support Facility, a new initiative under the Covenant of Mayors – Europe to assist local and regional authorities implement adaptation strategies. In this framework, 40 local and regional authorities from 12 Member States* in Europe will have the opportunity to receive tailored support from national and European experts to advance on adaptation action, including technical assistance to help develop and implement robust adaptation strategies and plans on the ground. For more information, please find the slides enclosed, this one page factsheet and the video of the 1st session at the CoM Ceremony in October 2021. The call for cities and regions to participate has been extended until June 21, apply here.
· The H2020 INTERLACE project is developing an Urban Governance Atlas (UGA) for nature-based solutions that will be an interactive online database of around 250 good practice policy instruments that support the use of nature-based solutions (NBS) for urban ecosystem restoration and more inclusive green space planning. The first database of its kind, the UGA will allow users to explore a different kinds of policy instruments being applied across the world. In addition to serving as a resource, the UGA provides an opportunity to share knowledge and be part of a global community working on NBS. The call is open until 30th June, available here
Events & webinars
· June 9 12.00-13.00 (CEST), drop into the 3rd Edible Cities Networking Session organised by H2020 EdiCitNet, for the chance to talk to administrators from Berlin, Oslo + Andernach about their experiences making their cities greener, more sustainable and more edible. On July 7 12.00-13.00 (CEST), join a webinar on Closed-Loop Urban Farming to learn about ways to recycle water and reclaim nutrients for more resource-friendly urban food production.
· 16 & 17 June. H2020 project URBiNAT is hosting an international conference in Milan on the theme of “Nature for Innovative and Inclusive Urban Regeneration (NATiURB)”. The conference is open to all. Representatives of sister H2020 projects working on Cities and NBS especially welcome! Full programme + registration details: https://urbinat.eu/conference-2022/
· The Forum on the Mission Adaptation to Climate Change, organised by the European Commission and the Committee of the Regions will take place on the 7th September. The Forum will present the situation in Europe regarding adaptation to climate change and will gather input from regions, including on intentions to participate in the Mission.
Publications & tools
· H2020 Urban GreenUP project presents: - Info-packs from its frontrunner cities (Valladolid, Liverpool, Izmir) presenting the URBAN GreenUP NBS best practices
· H2020 EdiCitNet project has a new scientific publication out: Let's Do It Online?! Challenges and Lessons for Inclusive Virtual Participation. The reflections in this paper offer learnings from the disruptions caused by COVID-19 to better understand how participatory planning processes can be managed online along the lines of equity, access, and participation.
· The CLEARING HOUSE project has published 22 UF-NBS case studies in Europe and China. The analysis of these cases illustrated the high importance of UF-NBS as contributing to health, well-being and quality of life.
Awareness raising campaigns - calls for actions
· Send in your projects NBS related facts (1-2 sentences with quantifiable content) for a chance to be featured in NetworkNature social media campaign #NatureFact to nea.pakarinen@iclei.org (see example here)
· Following the awareness raising carried at the occasion of the International Day of Forests in March, the CLEARING HOUSE project developed posters to be displayed in public places. The purpose is to keep on raising awareness on the importance of trees in cities as nature-based solutions. Messages are already written but can be translated and adapted with examples from your area. Feel free to use them in parks and schools around you! Here are the templates easily editable.
Take care,
Sofie