CARDIMED is pleased to announce its participation in the 1st International Nature-based Solutions Congress, taking place from 2–7 November 2026 in Paris, France. Organised under the theme “Nature-based Solutions for Inclusive and Resilient Societies”, the congress will bring together researchers, policymakers, practitioners and innovators working to accelerate the transition towards more sustainable and climate-resilient territories.
As part of the event, CARDIMED will co-organise a dedicated session together with fellow projects from the NBS4EU Cluster: ARCADIA, DesirMED and NATALIE.
Reconnecting cities and peri-urban areas with nature
The symposium, titled “Reconnecting cities and peri-urban areas with nature: the role of Nature-based Solutions (NbS)” will explore how Nature-based Solutions can support the implementation of the EU Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR) while addressing climate adaptation, biodiversity restoration, public health and social resilience in urban and peri-urban environments.
The session will be coordinated by representatives from the four sister projects:
CARDIMED
- Tadej Stepisnik Perdih (NTUA)
- Najla Kamergi (SEMIDE)
ARCADIA
- Arianna Cecchi (ART-ER)
DesirMED
- Elisa Furlan (CMCC)
NATALIE
- Thelma Pellicer (OIEAU)
Through presentations, discussions and collaborative activities, the session aims to foster cross-disciplinary dialogue and generate actionable insights for both practitioners and policymakers.
A collaborative and interactive format
The symposium will include:
- Five oral presentations (15 minutes each)
- A moderated Q&A session
- An interactive collaborative workshop to co-develop a Policy Brief based on the discussions and key findings emerging during the session
Participants will explore how cities can design, finance and implement NbS that are environmentally effective, socially accepted, economically viable and institutionally supported.
Special attention will be given to innovative governance approaches, blended financing mechanisms, social acceptance, and community engagement strategies needed to scale up NbS implementation across Europe and the Mediterranean region.
Call for abstracts and posters now open
The NBS4EU Cluster projects are inviting researchers, practitioners and experts from disciplines including ecology, economics, urban planning, sociology and data science to contribute to the session.
Submissions are encouraged on topics such as:
- Innovative tools and methodologies for NbS implementation, monitoring and evaluation
- Urban heat mitigation, stormwater management and flood risk reduction
- Biodiversity restoration and ecosystem resilience
- Health and wellbeing impacts, including air quality, physical activity and mental health
- Governance models, financing mechanisms and community engagement approaches
- Cross-sector collaboration between environmental, health, urban planning and business stakeholders
The goal is to collaboratively advance practical and policy-relevant knowledge that supports the large-scale deployment of Nature-based Solutions in cities and peri-urban areas.
Researchers and practitioners interested in contributing to the session can submit their abstracts and posters through the official congress platform here.
Check out the full programe here.
