Citizens at the Heart of the Green Transition: CARDIMED Project Explores Social Acceptance of Nature-Based Solutions in Mediterranean Communities
Researchers from the CARDIMED project presented new findings on how Mediterranean communities perceive and engage with Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) as tools for climate resilience and sustainable urban development during the EGU General Assembly 2026, one of Europe’s leading conferences in the geosciences field. The research was showcased through a virtual poster presentation by Emanuela Rita Giuffrida (University of Catania) and colleagues in the session “Public Engagement and Citizen Science in the Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences”, highlighting the social dimensions of climate adaptation and community participation.
The study analysed participatory processes across four Mediterranean countries, Italy (Catania and Ferla), France (Marseille), Spain (Zaragoza), and Cyprus (Nicosia), where NbS interventions such as rain gardens, green walls, natural water treatment systems, and sustainable drainage solutions are being implemented.
A key finding of the study is that communities generally show high acceptance of Nature-Based Solutions, even when the technical term “NbS” is unfamiliar. Across the urban focus groups, participants intuitively linked the concept of NbS to familiar environmental elements and urban challenges related to shade, water, biodiversity, comfort, and greener public spaces, while also expressing concerns regarding long-term maintenance, institutional commitment, communication, and continuity.
Through structured focus groups with local community representatives, the research also revealed strong interest in co-creation, educational activities, awareness-raising initiatives, and long-term community involvement in the governance and stewardship of NbS interventions. Participants repeatedly emphasized the importance of visibility, accessibility, transparency, and inclusive participation processes to strengthen collective ownership and trust.
The results further indicate that participatory processes play a decisive role in improving the awareness, legitimacy, and long-term governance of NbS, while also revealing structural and institutional constraints that may undermine their transformative potential if left unaddressed.
“Nature-based solutions must be understood not only as technical measures, but as relational tools capable of reshaping human-environment relationships and strengthening social cohesion.”
These findings provide critical insights into justice-based and socially rooted pathways for implementing Nature-Based Solutions across Mediterranean territories, supporting greater societal acceptance, strengthening collective ownership, and reinforcing the importance of community engagement for long-term climate resilience and sustainability transitions.
More information about the conference session is available at: https://www.egu26.eu/session/57593
