My name is Simon Racé and I am currently undertaking a Nature-based Solutions journey, between Europe and Asia, connecting my previous work experience at ICLEI Europe with my old dream to travel to China & Japan!
From February to September 2026, I will meet: 20 local governments, 12 universities, 11 associations, 8 EU-funded projects, 3 research centres and 1 company, from 20 countries in Europe and Asia.
During this grand journey, I will try to:
• mostly use low emitting transportation means;
• understand the local barriers and success factors of NbS implementation;
• demonstrate the importance of local action;
• share inspiration & hope!
The idea behind all this is simple. We are facing an ecological backlash at the global and national stage (thinking here of the US under the Trump administration or the EU environmental setbacks). Yet, everything's not lost and local initiatives are flourishing here and there in all places, contributing to halt the ongoing climate catastrophe and the 6th mass extinction.
I believe that shedding light on these initiatives between Europe and Asia will contribute to make a difference in a meaningful way, hoping to bring some hope back where it might have disappeared!
I will meet the NetworkNature Caucasus hub representatives during my stay in Georgia and Armenia in late March, to know more about their past, ongoing and future NbS projects and priorities and to further understand what their local NbS context is. A big thank you to Mamuka, Gvantsa and Shushanik for giving me this opportunity and I look forward to arriving in the Caucasus soon!
