Connecting, Learning, and Innovating through NbS at NetworkNature 2025
NetworkNature is getting bigger every year, and we are glad to witness its growth. This is our second year participating, and it’s always inspiring to be surrounded by more than 100 EU-funded projects, researchers, city practitioners, and innovators, exploring the power of Nature-based Solutions in urban spaces.
First Day: Insights and Challenges in Implementing NbS
The first day was full of energy, exchange, and reflection. Discussions explored how NbS can support climate adaptation, biodiversity, and thriving communities, while tackling real-world challenges such as funding gaps, institutional clashes, and tracking NbS performance.
Sebastian Villasante (IPBES), presenting the Transformative Change Assessment Report, stressed that “speed of destruction is greater than speed of restoration,” while Siobhan McQuaid from the project Invest4Nature reminded us that “the cost of inaction is higher than the cost of action.” stressing the socio-economic importance of investing in nature-positive initiatives. We also explored the so-called Doughnut Economy model, illustrated in Grenoble, showed how cities can balance social and environmental goals to create resilient, inclusive public spaces.
Discussions on Ecocide with Sue Miller (Stop Ecocide International) highlighted the emerging legal frameworks and international recognition needed to hold perpetrators accountable. The session on investing in nature, with contributions from Green Finance Observatory, BIOFIN-EU Naturalis, and GoNaturePositive!, examined nature credits, public vs private finance, and regulatory frameworks, stressing the need for long-term financing, local capacity-building, and respect for indigenous knowledge.
Finally, Sharon Brooks (UNEP-WCMC) reminded participants that “there is no business without nature,” emphasising projects like Encore and the importance of institutionalising green solutions to ensure NbS interventions are effective, inclusive, and embedded in urban planning.
For GreenInCities, these moments were a valuable opportunity to share our work, learn from other initiatives, and strengthen connections with sister projects, while contributing to the scope and goals of Mission Cities and Mission Climate Adaptation.
Second Day: Hands-On Learning in NbS Labs
On the second day, GreenInCities took part in several NbS Labs during the Task Forces day, including an informal settlements workshop focused on inclusivity, equitable access, and integrating local communities’ perspectives into urban planning. The team also contributed to the NbS Fresco® prototype (Terracene Foundation), a hands-on collaborative workshop that simulates real-life NbS interventions, fosters peer learning, and highlights practical challenges. These exercises help refine methods, develop awareness-raising tools, and strengthen stakeholder engagement across pilot cities.
Cluster Meeting: Collaboration, Synergies, and Policy Integration
The day concluded with the much-anticipated cluster meeting, bringing together Project Officers, Mission representatives, and sister projects – including URBREATH, Commit2Green, ClimaGen, GreenInCities, and Regreeneration. After so many online meetings, it was refreshing to meet offline and hands-on, examined the key challenges and enablers for integrating NbS into urban and regional planning, drawing lessons from living labs and demonstrators. They also mapped monitoring frameworks and indicators to assess NbS impacts and ensure interventions are effective and resilient.
These exchanges enabled sharing experiences, exploring synergies, and addressing issues like data collection, citizen engagement, and embedding biodiversity as a stakeholder, essential for policy-level impact, cross-country collaboration, and scalable, inclusive NbS interventions.
“The cost of inaction is higher than the cost of action.”
GreenInCities left Brussels after two days of work inspired and motivated, reaffirming that collaboration, experimentation, and knowledge exchange are at the heart of designing nature-positive, resilient cities for the future.
