4a. Raising awareness of and empowering society on NbS

Co-developing knowledge and solutions and more generally promoting citizen and stakeholder engagement in NbS implementation is essential for their acceptability, as well as to help clarify NbS beneficiaries and accessibility for different groups. As such R&I can be instrumental in developing societal awareness on NbS, in particular but not limited to citizens’ awareness through information sharing, co-development of knowledge and identifying approaches to NbS design and implementation that empowers stakeholders. This aspect often appears key in expert consultations for successful NbS implementation, also because public opinion is a powerful driver of narrative change and influence on policy and business. R&I can:

European Commission Directorate-General for Research and Innovation et al. Nature-based solutions: state of the art in EU funded projects. (Publications Office of the European Union, 2020).

European Environment Agency. Nature-based solutions in Europe policy, knowledge and practice for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. (Publications Office of the European Union, 2021).

Grace, M. et al. Priority knowledge needs for implementing nature-based solutions in the Mediterranean islands. Environ. Sci. Policy 116, 56–68 (2021).

Nelson, D. R., Bledsoe, B. P., Ferreira, S. & Nibbelink, N. P. Challenges to realising the potential of nature-based solutions. Curr. Opin. Environ. Sustain. 45, 49–55 (2020).

Raymond, C. M. et al. An impact evaluation framework to support planning and evaluation of nature-based solutions projects: prepared by the EKLIPSE Expert Working Group on nature-based solutions to promote climate resilience in urban areas. (Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford, 2017).