The Nature of Cities

5 Years Later: Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic (P1) This month marks five years since the World Health Organization declared #COVID-19 a global pandemic. As we reflect on how our cities and communities have evolved, what lessons have we truly learned? Back in August 2021, in the midst of ongoing uncertainty, Martina Artmann and Katharina Artmann's #TNOCessay Soul and the City: Re-Establishing our Relational Capacity Beyond COVID-19 raised important questions that still resonate today: ?? How can we strengthen urban relational capacity in a world shaped by individualization, digitalization, and instrumentalization? ?? How can we reconnect—deeply—with each other and with nonhuman nature in cities, knowing the socio-ecological crisis persists beyond COVID-19? Five years on, how have our answers to these questions changed? Read the full essay here: https://lnkd.in/d2B-KeAa

?? Primavera R Intensive Training on Climate Urbanism Implementation Strategies (9-11 April, 2025) We’re excited to welcome David Maddox to the Primavera R Intensive Training! As a leader in urban ecology and participatory design, Dr. Maddox will explore how co-designing nature in cities fosters resilience, inclusivity, and creativity. Session: Co-Designing Nature in Cities ?? What You’ll Learn: ?? How co-designing nature in cities transforms urban spaces into dynamic ecosystems. ?? The role of community engagement, co-production, and artistic expression in creating resilient landscapes. ?? Real-world case studies demonstrating how participatory approaches animate urban environments. ?? How to integrate ecological principles with creative practice to develop sustainable and inclusive green spaces. ?? Practical tools and strategies to bridge the gap between human experience and natural systems in urban design. As the Founder and Director of The Nature of Cities, David has been at the forefront of reimagining how cities and nature coexist. His work combines research, storytelling, and creativity to inspire innovation in urban sustainability. ?? Join us for this inspiring session and learn how to create cities that are better for both people and nature! Register now – early-bird discounts still available! ?? https://lnkd.in/dgSeJHJ6 #UrbanEcology #CoDesign #GreenCities #ResilientLandscapes #SustainableUrbanism #PrimaveraR #Barcelona #TheNatureOfCities Cynthia Echave Marie-Christine Therrien Stelios Grafakos Mattia Leone Stewart Sarkozy-Banoczy, WEDG Roberto Rocco Lauren Sorkin Luca C. Arbau Eduard Carrasco Resilient Cities Network Lorenzo Chelleri Tímea Sz?ke Valeria Rijana Farah Aisyah Mior Elo?se Deshayes Martí Colomer Morera

The Nature of Cities is excited to be part of this inspiring training on Climate Urbanism Implementation Strategies! Most climate adaptation efforts happen in silos. Trainings are often too technical, too long, or don’t allow for real exchange between disciplines. This one is different. From April 9-11 in #Barcelona, we’re bringing together practitioners, city officials, and global thought leaders for a three-day immersive training that connects climate action with spatial justice, governance, and design. Among the speakers is our TNOC Executive Director, David Maddox, talking about co-designing nature in cities alongside incredible minds exploring: ??? Climate resilience governance – Marie-Christine Therrien, ENAP Montreal ?? Climate plans assessment frameworks – Stelios Grafakos, GGGI ?? Spatial justice in climate urbanism – Roberto Rocco, TU Delft ??? Urban design climate workshop – Mattia Leone, UCCRN EU ?? Financing blue infrastructures and coastal resilience – Stewart Sarkozy-Banoczy, WEDG-, WOC ?? Resilient Cities Index and Academy for City Resilience Officers – L. Sorkin, CRN ??? Barcelona City Resilience Strategy and Climate Planning – Eduard Carrasco, City Resilience Officer BCN ?? Climate urbanism introduction – Lorenzo Chelleri, UIC-URNet ??? UN-Habitat's City Resilience Global Programme team - UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme) But this isn’t just theory. You’ll connect directly with Barcelona’s city officials, visit live urban resilience projects, and end with the Barcelona Resilience Festival "Primavera R" on April 11, where the city’s climate initiatives open their doors to the public. If you’re looking for a hands-on experience that moves beyond ambition and into real-world climate action, this is for you. Register now: https://lnkd.in/dgSeJHJ6 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/diVH6nx5 Let’s build cities that work for both people and nature. #ClimateUrbanism #UrbanResilience #NatureInCities #SpatialJustice #PrimaveraR

?? Early-Bird Extended: Secure Your Spot at the Primavera R Intensive Training! Due to strong interest and multiple requests for extra time, we’re extending the 40% early-bird discount for the Primavera R Intensive Training on Climate Urbanism Implementation Strategies until March 15! ?? Learn from renowned global experts in climate resilience, urban governance, and sustainable cities. ?? Gain practical insights, hands-on training, and exclusive site visits in Barcelona. ?? Connect with urban planners, policymakers, and sustainability leaders shaping the future of resilient cities. 40% off until March 15 – Limited spots available! ?? Barcelona | April 9-11, 2025 ?? Learn More: https://lnkd.in/diVH6nx5 ?? Register now: https://lnkd.in/dnQZ45D2 Be part of this transformative learning experience – secure your place today! #ClimateUrbanism #UrbanResilience #SustainableCities #PrimaveraR #Barcelona #CityPlanning #ClimateAdaptation Luca C. Arbau Marie-Christine Therrien Stelios Grafakos Stewart Sarkozy-Banoczy, WEDG David Maddox Roberto Rocco Lauren Sorkin Cynthia Echave Eduard Carrasco Resilient Cities Network Lorenzo Chelleri Tímea Sz?ke Valeria Rijana Farah Aisyah Mior Elo?se Deshayes Martí Colomer Morera

Economy, Employment, Environment. Can We Have It All? By Seema Mundoli & Harini Nagendra-- Bangalore Economic growth, jobs, and the environment are deeply intertwined. Yet, too often, prioritizing one comes at the expense of the others. How can we break this cycle? This latest #TNOCessay explores Kerala’s Ayyankali Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme (AUEGS)—a remarkable initiative that offers dignified work while tackling urban environmental challenges. ??? Through green jobs, this program supports water conservation, urban agriculture, and afforestation—helping the most vulnerable while enhancing urban resilience. Workers, many of them women and elderly, gain income and skills while transforming their communities. Can such initiatives be scaled? Can we truly have it all—a thriving economy, secure employment, and a healthy environment? This essay sparks a conversation we all need to have. ?? Read more: https://lnkd.in/ddvukq6w #GreenJobs #SustainableCities #JustTransition #UrbanResilience #ClimateAction

?? Primavera R Intensive Training on Climate Urbanism Implementation Strategies (9-11 April, 2025) We’re excited to welcome Marie-Christine Therrien to the Primavera R Intensive Training! A leading expert in climate risk governance and stakeholder engagement, Dr. Therrien brings invaluable insights into how collaboration can drive resilience. Session: Climate Risk Governance and Stakeholder Engagement Through Collaborative Governance ?? What You’ll Learn: ?? The role of multi-stakeholder collaboration in climate governance—aligning interests, building capacity, and driving coordinated action. ?? Key co-design processes, cross-sectoral partnerships, and institutional frameworks that ensure resilience strategies are inclusive, adaptive, and effective. ?? How cities can institutionalize participatory approaches to ensure climate strategies are not only technically sound but also socially just and politically viable. ?? Practical exercises and case studies that provide actionable frameworks for fostering collaborative climate governance. As a Professor at école nationale d’administration publique (ENAP) in Montréal and Co-Director of the Collaboratoire Uni-Cité, Marie-Christine specializes in resilience governance, crisis management, and the intersection of science and urban policy. ?? Join us for this essential session on building inclusive and effective climate governance! Secure your spot now – early-bird discounts available! ?? https://lnkd.in/dgSeJHJ6 #ClimateGovernance #UrbanResilience #StakeholderEngagement #Sustainability #PrimaveraR #Barcelona #ClimateAdaptation #ResilientCities Luca C. Arbau Stelios Grafakos Mattia Leone Stewart Sarkozy-Banoczy, WEDG David Maddox Roberto Rocco Lauren Sorkin Cynthia Echave Eduard Carrasco Resilient Cities Network Lorenzo Chelleri Tímea Sz?ke Valeria Rijana Farah Aisyah Mior Elo?se Deshayes Martí Colomer Morera

?? Primavera R Intensive Training on Climate Urbanism Implementation Strategies (9-11 April, 2025) We’re excited to welcome Luca C. Arbau to the Primavera R Intensive Training on Climate Urbanism Implementation Strategies! A leading expert in resilience and climate adaptation, Luca will explore how cities and regions can drive systemic transformation through multilevel governance. Session: Towards a Resilient Transformation – A Multilevel Governance Approach ?? What You’ll Learn: ?? Why incremental adaptation is no longer enough – the case for transformational climate resilience. ?? How multilevel governance can unlock financial opportunities, foster climate justice, and scale successful climate actions. ?? Insights into the Regional Resilience Journey framework, developed under the Pathways2Resilience project. ?? Opportunities for cities to engage in European programs supporting climate resilience. ?? Join us for this essential session on scaling climate resilience through governance and collaboration! As a senior expert in Resilience and Climate Adaptation at ICLEI Europe, Luca specializes in climate governance, multilevel resilience strategies, and urban co-creation. ?? Limited spots available – register now! ?? https://lnkd.in/dgSeJHJ6 #ClimateResilience #MultilevelGovernance #UrbanSustainability #ClimateAdaptation #ResilientCities #PrimaveraR #Barcelona #ICLEI Marie-Christine Therrien Stelios Grafakos Mattia Leone Stewart Sarkozy-Banoczy, WEDG David Maddox Roberto Rocco Lauren Sorkin Cynthia Echave Eduard Carrasco Resilient Cities Network Lorenzo Chelleri Tímea Sz?ke Valeria Rijana Farah Aisyah Mior Elo?se Deshayes Martí Colomer Morera

Everyone loves comics! Whether you grew up with them or just discovered them, comics are one of the most engaging and accessible ways to tell stories. So, what better way to mainstream knowledge, science, and nature-based solutions NbS) than through comics ? ?? NBS Comics: Nature to Save the World ?? is now available on Webtoons—a global platform where readers can explore high-quality digital comics for free. Why Webtoons? ?? Easy Access, Anytime, Anywhere – Webtoons are designed for mobile and digital reading, making it easy for anyone to dive into our stories on the go. ?? A Global Community – Webtoons connects millions of readers and creators worldwide. By joining, you're part of a growing movement of people who believe in the power of comics for change. ?? Immersive & Engaging Format – The vertical scrolling format of Webtoons enhances storytelling, creating a dynamic and cinematic experience that makes nature-based solutions (NbS) more exciting to explore. ?? Interactive & Social – Readers can comment, like, and share their thoughts, making Webtoons not just a place to read, but a community where we can exchange ideas and inspire each other. ?? Print or Digital? Your Choice! – You can enjoy NBS Comics online or even print them out to share in classrooms, workshops, and events. This project brings together artists, scientists, and NbS experts from all over the world to empower comic creators to tell intelligent, entertaining, and change-making stories about nature and people. Follow us on Webtoons, read, and join a global community of comic lovers & creators! https://lnkd.in/dpJ4h4Gn A project by The Nature of Cities & NetworkNature EU #ComicsForChange #NBSComics #NatureBasedSolutions #StorytellingForNature #Webtoons #ScienceThroughComics

It may be the shortest month of the year?? but NetworkNature has no shortage of resources for you to explore ?? Wait patiently for the ides of March with this article that outlines the many tools NetworkNature has to offer ??https://lnkd.in/ddwtcF6u Here are some key materials to explore: ??What are NbS? – A quick introductory video https://lnkd.in/eFt4Dha8 ??NbS Policy Screening & Analysis – Key insights for 2024–2030 https://lnkd.in/eKZup6Ku ??NbS Case Study Finder – A tool to discover inspiring international case studies https://lnkd.in/eQTA2D9f ??Biodiversity-positive Design in Urban Areas with NbS: Approaches: https://lnkd.in/d6iXJ46c Check out the full collection of resources for more in-depth insights and case studies to support your NbS journey ??https://lnkd.in/ddwtcF6u #NatureBasedSolutions #UrbanResilience #Sustainability #ClimateAction #NbS

?? Next Monday, March 3rd at 4pm BCN time ?? I'll be introducing ONLINE our Int. Executive Msc Degree in Urban Resilience for Sustainability Transitions (https://lnkd.in/dieSXUqf) at UIC Barcelona ???? ?? Applications are open now and places are limited ! ?? We usually have some 100+ applications for the 15 slots available: interviews start now !! Explore with whoever is interested the 5 Modules (Theory - Built Env. - Green Infr. - Community Resilience and Implementation) and Q&A session with me and our team. This Executive Msc program counts with more than 40 international experts and professors from a variety of institutions, and links you to the best international partners for your internship (more than 150 partners) ?? I'll wait for you at this link https://shorturl.at/S1ZR8 See you soon and forward to who could be interested : ) Marta Olazabal Sara Meerow Ana Terra Amorim-Maia Stelios Grafakos Leon Kapetas Valeria Rijana Beniamino Russo Lauren Sorkin Maria Adriana Cardoso Rita Brito Johannes Langemeyer Daniela Rizzi David Maddox Bettina Wilk Claudia Misteli Erika Zárate Juan del Río Luis Berraquero Díaz Mattia Leone Stewart Sarkozy-Banoczy, WEDG Marie-Christine Therrien Luca C. Arbau Enzo Falco Roberto Rocco Cynthia Echave Stefano Moroni Marco Piras Thorsten Schuetze