Project Overview
Climate change and pollution are increasing stress on water supply globally. Both water shortages and urban flooding pose problems in cities. Cityscapes that consist of concrete, tarmac and buildings do not allow water to flow. Would it not be nice to change this?
EU-funded NICE does just that. Launched in June 2021, NICE applies a natural approach to transform concrete jungles. NICE utilises nature-based solutions to foster circular urban water loops globally.
What are nature-based solutions? The European Commission defines them 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.”
NICE generates knowledge for the design and implementation of nature-based solutions with the goal of closing urban water loops. The NICE solutions capture water, repurpose it, and mitigate pollution and runoff.
