“Implementing Inclusive and Just Nature-Based Solutions: An Interactive Online Workshop in which the euPOLIS perspective will be presented is taking place on Tuesday, October 11, 2022, 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM · 1 hr. 30 min. (Europe/Brussels).

Nature-based Solutions (NBS) for EU cities and regions represent an integral part of the EU’s transition to achieving climate neutrality. In this panel, experts will discuss effective, just, and inclusive strategies to design, implement and manage NBS, while engaging under-represented or marginalized stakeholders. Panelists will discuss successful, inclusive NBS co-creation processes and opportunities for upscaling through concrete public commitments under the European Climate Pact.

Three of the euPOLIS experts, Mikołaj Biesaga (University of Warsaw), Juan Guillermo Jimenez (City of Bogotá), and Barbara Pilz (CDP Europe) will have an opportunity to present the euPOLIS approach to the matters of inclusive, just and sensitive urban planning.

The workshop will highlight proven innovative strategies and approaches to foster the inclusive engagement of stakeholders. This expert discussion will feature insights from local government, youth activists, participation experts, and researchers. Special attention will be paid to the importance and the best ways of including marginalized and under-represented groups in decision-making for Nature-based Solutions’ policy design, governance, and related climate and environmental action.

The session will showcase how restoring urban ecosystems and introducing NBS to urban open spaces can improve health and well-being by reducing the negative impacts of climate change and weather extremes. The discussion will be enriched by data-driven insights on plans and actionable measures from over 180 European cities and regions and supported by the findings of two Horizon 2020 research projects: euPOLIS and INTERLACE. Session participants will have the opportunity to discuss with the experts and participate in a brainstorming exercise to come up with practical recommendations from the session.

SPEAKERS:

• Minu Hemmati, Senior Advisor @ MSP Institute
• Barbara Pilz, Senior Cities, States and Regions Officer, European Climate Pact @ CDP Europe (euPOLIS expert)
• Xavier Romero Hidalgo, Environmental technician, and European projects Manager @ Ajuntament de Granollers
• Mikołaj Biesaga, Research Assistant @ University of Warsaw (euPOLIS expert)

MODERATOR:

• McKenna Davis, Senior Fellow @ Ecologic Institute

VIDEO TESTIMONIALS:

• Juan Guillermo Jimenez, Gerente de la Empresa de Renovación y Desarrollo Urbano de Bogotá Ciudad de Bogota (euPOLIS expert)

• Emily Bohobo N’dombaxe Dola, Storytelling Director @ Youth4Nature

REGISTRATION:

You can use this link to register.

Please note that you will need to create your own profile which you can use for the entire EU Regions Week program, register in more sessions if you are interested, and connect with hundreds of participants from the EU authorities, academia, national administrations, etc.