Our webinar series, Nature Based Solutions, brings together a cohort of IURC cities and metropolitan areas in a peer-to-peer learning environment to discuss and share challenges and best practices related to the main topic as they build long-term learning, networking, and working relationship amongst the participants. These webinars build upon topics of interest emerging from the cooperation among cities and questions that arose during study visits in 2023. The lessons from these webinars will be further explored during our IURC NA Thematic Networking Event on Renovation Wave and Nature-Based Solutions that will take place in Mannheim, Germany, on September 18-20th, 2023. The series started in April 2023 and will end in July 2023. You may find below the information regarding past sessions and register for the upcoming ones:
12th of April, 2023
Fostering Social Cohesion & Community Engagement through Urban Agriculture and Green Spaces
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Nature-Based solutions have become an essential part of climate action plans. Beyond their environmental impact, these projects and programs are an opportunity to foster social cohesion and promote community engagement. In this session, the O’Brien Farm in St John’s, Canada, explained its program, School to Farm, and presented its Farm Incubation program, which supports new farming businesses. The Farm Borg project in Rimini, Italy, presented how they create gardens to promote socialization and participation in joint initiatives, develop the ability to grow shared community ideas, and expand public spaces. And the Bergamo Botanical Garden spoke about their food policy projects, Science Cafe, and how volunteers link city institutions and the general public.
12th of July, 2023
Tackling Urban Heat Islands & Extreme Temperatures: How Cities are Implementing Climate Shelters and Other Solutions
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Because of climate change, intense heat waves are becoming increasingly frequent and intense. They are exacerbated by urban heat islands – a phenomenon that occurs when an urban area is much hotter than the surrounding undeveloped areas (i.e. too much concrete, too few trees!).
This webinar will feature presentations from experts with the City of Boston and the Barcelona Metropolitan Area sharing specific solutions that they are undertaking, such as networks of cooling spaces, increasing vegetation, and urban parks, and how these interventions have been identified and are being implemented.