July 13th, 2025
Urban resilience starts with water. As extreme weather and urban expansion increase flood risks, cities worldwide are turning to Nature-based Solutions (NbS) to build smarter, more adaptive urban landscapes.
NbS solutions integrate ecosystems into urban planning to manage water sustainably. They reduce surface runoff, enhance groundwater recharge, improve water quality, and strengthen community resilience all while providing co-benefits like biodiversity, green space, and climate mitigation.
This best practice was developed as part of the IURC North America initiative and showcases the impact of shared learning, open digital tools, and cooperation between cities in the European Union and North America. It also supports the achievement of UN Sustainable Development Goal 13: climate action by building resilient infrastructure and reducing the impact of floods on urban areas.
It highlights two leading initiatives:
· Resilient Houston: A city-wide strategy combining green stormwater infrastructure, ecosystem restoration, and bold planning reforms to manage floods more holistically.
· City Blues (Baltic Sea Region): A cross-country initiative developing a flexible operational NbS model in urban catchment areas.
Supported by the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030, the Adaptation to Climate Change Strategy, and networks like Connecting Nature, these projects exemplify how NbS can be scaled and adapted to local contexts.
🌱 Explore how cities are embedding nature into infrastructure transforming water risks into opportunities for sustainable urban transformation.
Read the full Best Practice and explore the NBS strategies.