The EU and nature-based solutions

The ambition of research and innovation policy is to position the EU as leader in innovating with nature to achieve more sustainable and resilient societies.

The Commission defines nature-based solutions as

“Solutions that are inspired and supported by nature, which are cost-effective, simultaneously provide environmental, social and economic benefits and help build resilience. Such solutions bring more, and more diverse, nature and natural features and processes into cities, landscapes and seascapes, through locally adapted, resource-efficient and systemic interventions.”

Nature-based solutions must therefore benefit biodiversity and support the delivery of a range of ecosystem services.

Funding opportunities

Horizon Europe

On this page you can find more information, the work programme and a link to the environment-related calls

LIFE+ Climate Action

Co-financing for climate change mitigation and adaptation research, supporting the transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy

European Structural and Investment Funds

Environment research related calls may be found in this programme, particularly in the European regional development fund.

COST actions

COST (European cooperation in science and technology) funds bottom-up, open research and innovation networks

Projects and results

Results pack on nature-based solutions

Thematic collection of innovative EU-funded nature-based solutions research results (CORDIS)

Research project database (CORDIS)

The Commission's primary portal for the results of EU-funded research projects

Oppla case studies

Open platform repository of nature-based solution case studies

Urban Nature Atlas

Interactive map showing 1000 examples of nature-based solutions from across 100 European cities

Horizon dashboard

Access to real-time programme data with the ability to filter by country, region, theme and more

Horizon Results Platform

Platform where framework programme participants present their results for you to search, contact their owners, and form partnerships

Collaboration and jobs

Nature-based solutions cooperation manifesto

Manifesto guiding cities' adoption of nature-based solutions

Oppla community and marketplace

Networking opportunities and marketplace to promote the output of your project or network

Network nature

Platform hosting the latest nature-based solutions research, best practices and resources

Urban agenda for the EU

Includes a partnership on sustainable land use and nature-based solutions

Global climate change alliance flagship

EU flagship initiative helping the world's most vulnerable countries address climate change, largely based on nature-based solutions

Jobs (EURAXESS)

Researcher jobs in the field of nature-based solutions

Find project partners

Find partners for open EU calls for proposal

Scientific publications, tools and databases

Biodiversity information system for Europe (BISE)

Data and information on biodiversity supporting the EU biodiversity strategy

EU publications portal

Online library of EU research publications on nature-based solutions

Climate-ADAPT

Platform for sharing data and information to inform decision making on climate adaptation

Nature-based solutions in the EU

Scientific publication on EU policy and actions in the field of nature-based solutions

Scientific publications

Scientific research publications on nature-based solutions published by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC)

OpenAIRE

You can access all scientific publications from Horizon 2020 via OpenAIRE

EU Open Data Portal

Single point of access to open data produced by the EU institutions - all data free to use for commercial and non-commercial purposes

Publications

Report
27 January 2023
Directorate-General for Research and Innovation

Nature-based solutions and the challenges of water: Accelerating the transition to more sustainable cities

Nature-based solutions are innovative approaches that regenerate areas affected by human activities, restoring key ecological functions that improve people’s quality of life.