News

On 23 June, the #5 webinar in the NBS EduWORLD UrbanByNature series took place, focusing on the vital topic of 'Green Skills' – the competencies that are essential for successfully planning, delivering and scaling up Nature-Based Solutions (NBS). Experts from the fields of research, practice and public administration discussed the technical and social skills required today, and how education systems and labour markets can better respond to growing demand.

Green Skills for a Green Economy

Hadiza Lemo from Horizon Nua opened the webinar by outlining the growing importance of green skills in sectors such as construction, tourism and agriculture. She emphasised that technical expertise, including in areas such as ecosystem management, GIS and environmental assessment, is just as important as soft skills such as project management and communication. Despite the high demand, major barriers remain, with insufficient funding, a lack of connection between academia and practice, and inadequate educational offerings all holding back skill development.

Education as a Driver for Engagement

Maria Gallo (Trinity College Dublin) emphasised that NBS education must reach not only specialists, but also those who are interested in NBS. She stressed the importance of creative and collaborative learning formats that foster awareness of global interconnections and systems thinking. She argued that education is the starting point for deeper involvement and shared ownership. Gallo also cautioned against the risks of green gentrification, advocating inclusive, community-led processes instead.

A Practical Case from Regenerative Ocean Farming

Martina Brophy (Horizon Nua) presented a hands-on initiative combining technical and entrepreneurial green skills in a five-week online course in regenerative aquaculture. Drawing on EU projects, the programme covers regenerative principles, sustainable business models and financing, and also promotes community values and cooperation. This case study shows how technical and social skills can be combined to create new green industries.

Discussion: Challenges and opportunities

The subsequent discussion provided valuable insights fromCéleste Rouberol (City of Paris) and Vera Enzi (Austria). Rouberol explained that transforming Paris’s parks department into an Urban Nature Department required significant changes and retraining. She emphasised that, in addition to expertise, fair working conditions and local living options are crucial to making green careers appealing. Enzi added that green infrastructure projects require interdisciplinary skills spanning architecture, construction, and engineering. She emphasised the importance of incorporating NBS themes into school curricula to engage young people from an early age.

The conversation also emphasised the importance of embedding NBS training systematically within accredited programmes and aligning it with labour market needs. Engaging decision-makers and respecting diverse community values are also key. An example from Genoa illustrated how a lack of communication can lead to resistance to unmown green spaces, highlighting the importance of ongoing participatory education and dialogue.

Conclusion: Green Skills as the Foundation for a Nature-Positive Future

The webinar made clear that green skills go beyond technical know-how. They encompass social competencies that foster collaboration, communication and sustained commitment. Only a comprehensive approach that connects education, practice, and employment can successfully drive the transition towards a nature-positive economy.