Marwa Khalifa
Moderator
- Opening (5 minutes): Brief introduction of the session
- Case Study presentations (30 minutes): NbS from Glasgow, Egypt and Latin American cities
- Presentation on co-producing solutions and NbS in education (10 minutes)
- Panel Discussion (35 minutes)
- Closing (10 minutes): Concluding remarks-Feedback survey
The event includes three presentations on localised approaches; the experience of applying NbS in Glasgow, NbS initiatives in Egypt and community-based NbS in Latin American cities. A fourth presentation will discuss the co-production of NbS and transnational and interdisciplinary learning.
Glasgow was a frontrunner city in the project Connecting Nature along with 30 partners and under the funding of the European Commission's Horizon 2020 Innovation Action Programme. It co-led the Impact assessment and monitoring work package. Glasgow City Council will share their experience in the planning, application and impact assessment of NbS through projects like TreesAI and Every Tree Tells a Story. Their work included the development of innovative actions to nurture commercial and social enterprises active in producing NbS.
The presentation on initiatives in Egypt will focus on localising NbS to effectively address the burgeoning challenges of urban water security. With the increased pressure of urbanisation and climate change, NbS offer multiple benefits like flood control and improved water quality. The presentation emphasises the importance of tailoring solutions to local contexts and advocates for collaborative efforts and innovative financing. It aims at inspiring the integration of NbS into urban planning frameworks and urging urban planners, policymakers, and communities to prioritise resilient and sustainable urban water systems.
Thirdly, a presentation focussing on five Latin American cities will emphasise the need for context-specific NbS. Based on a multi-year research-practice project, it will present lessons on implementing NbS in informal contexts and the benefits of co-creation for long-term success and maximizing impacts.
The fourth presentation will focus on how NbS address challenges like climate adaptation by combining nature with engineering. It will highlight the role of policymakers and planners in supporting NbS, the importance of engaging communities, the value of global collaboration and learning to apply these solutions, particularly for vulnerable communities.
The panel discussions will be divided into three main themes: Challenges, Solutions and Opportunities and Way Forward. The audience will be encouraged to share their questions and ideas. Common challenges and specific contextual challenges are expected which will both benefit from sharing perspectives, knowledge and experience.
- Raising awareness about the benefits of Nature-based solutions in urban development and climate related challenges
- Discussing the importance of localised actions in Nature-based Solutions through initiatives from diverse contexts by:
- Showcasing best practices from the experience of Glasgow, Scotland
- Highlighting Nature-based Solutions initiatives in the Egyptian context as an
inspiration for further future application
- Presenting about NbS in informal contexts of Latin American cities
- Facilitating knowledge exchange between relevant stakeholders to inspire action, collaboration and lay the foundation for future research, educational initiatives and application
- Identifying key opportunities and barriers to the application of Nature-based Solutions and how to address them