News

2024 was a productive year for NBS EduWORLD, filled with steady progress in promoting nature-based solutions (NBS) through education, collaboration and practical initiatives. The project continued its mission to equip educators, students and local authorities with the tools and knowledge needed to integrate NBS into both learning environments and real-world applications. A key development was the launch of the European Task Force on Nature-Based Solutions Education during an online kick-off meeting in January. This new Task Force brought together experts from different fields to guide the integration of NBS into educational frameworks across Europe.

Key events during the year included:

• NBS EduWORLD Hackathon (March): This dynamic gathering challenged students to develop innovative solutions to real-world water challenges using NBS approaches. The event highlighted the power of interdisciplinary teamwork and showed how young minds can inspire creativity and action in tackling pressing environmental issues.
• #2 NBS EduCommunity Workshop (May): This hands-on workshop brought together stakeholders from different sectors to share practical insights and experiences in implementing NBS, strengthening the sense of a shared NBS education community.
• NBS Education Summit (September): A platform that brought together educators, policy makers and NBS experts to discuss the future of NBS education. The Summit highlighted the need for robust educational resources and actionable guidelines, setting the stage for a more structured and effective integration of NBS into learning systems. Participants left the Summit with a renewed sense of collaboration and a clear vision for advancing NBS education.
• Aalborg Conference Session (October): During the 10th Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns, NBS EduWORLD hosted 'Empower Youth, Transform Tomorrow', an engaging session that fostered dialogue between young changemakers and local authorities, inspiring collaborative action on sustainability.

In addition to these key moments, NBS EduWORLD also organised workshops and webinars throughout the year on topics such as biodiversity conservation, wastewater management and financing NBS. These sessions equipped participants with actionable strategies to effectively implement NBS in their contexts. The demonstration sites in Almada, Belgrade and Genova also saw significant activity. In Almada, students and volunteers contributed to dune restoration through the ReDuna project, while in Belgrade and Genoa, community-based initiatives demonstrated the practical benefits of NBS. The year also saw the introduction of new peripheral NBS EduSystems, extending the reach of NBS education by testing innovative solutions and bringing more regions into the project's efforts to promote sustainable development.

The year also saw an expansion of resources to support education on NBS: new learning units were introduced, covering critical issues such as public procurement for NBS and biodiversity strategies. Meanwhile, the continuously updated NBS Resources Database provides a rich repository of tools for educators, practitioners and policy makers. Through its events, resources and actions at demonstration sites, NBS EduWORLD made steady progress in its mission to bring NBS to the forefront of education and community action, contributing to a shared vision of sustainability.

Looking ahead to 2025, NBS EduWORLD will continue its work to promote NBS education and implementation across Europe. Key upcoming events include:

• 16 January: The #4 NBS EduWORLD UrbanByNature webinar will explore how monitoring systems and citizen science can enhance NBS in sustainable urban planning. Register here.
• 18 February: The #3 NBS EduCommunity Workshop will focus on empowering youth and promoting community ownership of NBS, while testing tools and fostering collaboration between key stakeholders. Register here.
• Stay tuned for the 2nd NBS Education Summit on 27 March, more information will be available soon.