Network exchange with INTERLACE at the UCLG Headquarters

City networks as change catalyzers: Strategies to drive action around nature-based solutions in municipalities

15 May 2024 from 18:00-19:30

UCLG World Secretariat, Carrer d’Avinyó, 15, 08002 Barcelona

On May 15, 2024, the UCLG World Secretariat in Barcelona hosted a city network exchange event titled “City Networks as Change Catalyzers: Strategies to Drive Action Around Nature-Based Solutions in Municipalities.”  This event was organised as part of the EU-funded INTERLACE project and brought together over 20 esteemed city network representatives from Europe and Latin America to discuss opportunities and strategies for supporting nature-based solutions. Represented organizations included, amongst others, the Latin American Landscape Initiative, UN Food and Agriculture Organization, Metropolis, C40 Cities, European Urban Knowledge Network, CIDEU City Network, the UN-Habitat resilience profiling programme, and the UCLG Learning Team. The event brought these stakeholders together to reflect on and bring new ideas to a draft ‘impulse paper’ outlining strategies for city networks to promote nature-based solutions in cities. Key themes include: 1) aim big,  2) work together, 3) tailor information and 4) think long-term.

The event was opened by brief introductory talks by Sara Hoeflich, Assistant Secretary General from UCLG, McKenna Davis, Coordinator of the INTERLACE project and a Senior Fellow at Ecologic Institute, and Andreas Kress of Climate Alliance to set the scene for the interactive event. Sara Hoeflich emphasized UCLG’s dedication to advocacy and political engagement in promoting nature-based solutions and highlighting the importance of integrating these solutions into city planning and policy-making. Key activities of the INTERLACE project – which aims to strengthen urban ecosystem restoration in Europe and Latin America – were also presented, including opportunities for global cities to join the Cities Talk Nature community of practice around nature-based solutions.  

Finally, Andres Kress from Climate Alliance elucidated the critical role of city networks in the context of nature-based solutions. He emphasized that these networks must reflect the realities and challenges faced by cities and serve as platforms for promoting nature-based solutions. Networks and associations in this regard are the binding piece between motivation and political commitment and making innovative practices more accessible beyond beneficiaries. “There is space for improvement,” Kress acknowledged, “but the objective is to promote cities to work with nature-based solutions more effectively.” 

The main part of the exchange consisted of an interactive discussion between participants about the draft impulse paper. Each group provided feedback, and reflections from their experience and networks, and identified remaining gaps and opportunities. 

Feedback and suggestions referred to, for example:

  • Enhancing collaboration across city networks that emerge as essential for supporting and sharing best practices 
  • Designing effective communication strategies, including the use of visuals and clear language, are vital for engaging cities and stakeholders. 
  • Promoting and recognizing efforts and highlighting the successes of cities in implementing nature-based solutions can serve as powerful motivation for other municipalities to follow suit. 
  • Connecting to long-term thinking. Sustainable solutions require enduring planning and commitment that transcends political cycles. These insights underscore the importance of cohesive and strategic efforts in promoting nature-based solutions across urban areas.

The suggestions will be taken up by the INTERLACE project and integrated into the final version of the paper “City networks as change catalyzers: Strategies to drive action around nature-based solutions in municipalities”, which will be shared in the UCLG Learning Forum soon.