Vision

A future where biodiversity thrives, ecosystems flourish and nature-based solutions are a cornerstone of healthy, equitable and resilient landscapes, cities and economies.

Mission

ICLEI Europe's Biodiversity and Nature-based Solutions (NbS) Team collaborates across diverse sectors and policy levels, tackling environmental, economic, and societal challenges on a policy level. In partnership with cities and regions, we champion transformative change by mainstreaming nature in urban development. Our commitment involves advocating for community-driven, place-based innovations and policies that are environmentally, culturally, socially, economically, geographically fitting and just.

Our mission is to integrate biodiversity and nature-based solutions into responses to climate change, biodiversity and ecosystem loss, and pollution. Serving as a bridge between science, policy, and traditional knowledge, we foster nature-positive practices, steering away from business-as-usual. Employing co-creative processes and capacity building with multi-stakeholder groups, we focus on resilient urban/rural landscapes, abundant wildlife habitats, and thriving natural corridors to enhance the health of people, ecosystems and the planet. 

Our approach

We have built the programme on a solid foundation taking into consideration relevant methodologies such as the Green Climate City programme and the Green City Action plan methodology for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), both developed by ICLEI, as well as the CitiesWithNature Initiative, designed by ICLEI, IUCN, and the Nature Conservancy. Furthermore, the International standard ISO 37101 “Sustainable development in communities” was also consulted to determine a holistic approach for the UrbanByNature programme. The integrated management cyclical approach has been set up in consultation with the mentioned relevant approaches to avoid duplication or reinvention of the wheel.

Furthermore, UrbanByNature’s concept also builds on the building blocks of the “Connecting Nature Framework” (Technical design, Indicators, Financing and Business Models, Entrepreneurship, Governance, Co-production and Reflexive Monitoring). The programme's integrated planning process, which has been used by local governments that are part of the ICLEI network and beyond, accounts for the complex combination of departments, sectors and organisations involved in sustainable urban planning. The programme is designed to be flexible and adaptable to the questions and expertise participants and contributors bring to the table from their diverse backgrounds and regions.