Partners: City of Dordrecht, Het Vogelnest, Växjö Municipality, Free Hanseatic City of Bremen – Ministry for Environment, climate and science Environmental Advisory Association, Bremer Umwelt Beratung, Municipality of Aarhus, City of Lille, Aarhus University, Aeres University of Applied Sciences, Bremen University (Sustainability Research Center – ARTEC), Open Kaart, International Union for Conservation of Nature, City of Hasselt , City of Brest, City of Bergen, Agency for Roads, Bridges and Water (LSBG Hamburg)
Date: September 2022 – December 2026
Location: Northern Europe/North Sea Region
By incorporating nature-based solutions (NbS) into urban planning, cities can support local ecosystem resilience and promote ecological connectivity. From effective water filtration, flood management, heat absorption and cleaner air – boosting urban biodiversity fosters nature-inclusive societies that equip cities to better manage the changing climate whilst positively impacting human health.
Bax supports Biodiverse Cities, a European partnership of 9 cities and 7 expert organisations tackling urgent urban challenges, the biodiversity crisis, and climate change. The project accelerates biodiversity action in North Sea Region cities through targeted urban investment programmes designed to halt biodiversity loss, enhance resilience to climate impacts, support ecosystem services, and promote nature-inclusive cities and societies.
Humanity faces a global crisis; biodiversity loss and climate change are jeopardising natural systems and human health. Biodiversity is fundamental to planetary health, and the ongoing sixth mass extinction threatens our access to clean air, fresh water and food supplies and our ability to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
Cities are central to the causes and effects of this crisis. With 75% of the world’s population projected to live in urban areas by 2050, they play a key role in addressing it. Some cities are actively taking measures to minimise their footprint, addressing these challenges both within and beyond their borders.
Approach
To combat the biodiversity and climate crisis, Bax supports 5 cities to pilot nature-based solutions (NbS) to become greener and more resilient, while guiding three pollinator cities in learning from their experiences and planning NbS replication. The partners develop, test and validate different NbS, from ecological corridors to restoring urban wetlands and forests. The partners will enhance citizens’ connection to nature by adopting state-of-the-art co-creation methods. The project goes beyond existing organisational practices to integrate biodiversity across city investments and policies. Bax supports partners in organising multi-level governance to connect areas and set common biodiversity goals.
Impact
This roadmap equips decision-makers with a strategic framework to guide policy development and investment in lightweight material technologies. By fostering innovation and addressing sector-specific challenges, the initiative directly supports the EU’s ambitious climate targets, including a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and achieving climate neutrality by 2050. It empowers industries to align material advancements with regulatory requirements and sustainability goals while driving progress across key sectors.
