Building Inclusive and Climate-Resilient Cities: URBREATH Reflections from the Vilnius Panel Discussion

On 5 May 2025, Vilnius hosted a dynamic panel discussion as part of an ongoing knowledge exchange between leading Horizon Europe projects addressing climate change through Nature-Based Solutions (NBS). Organised by URBREATH and its partners, the session brought together voices from the ReGreeneration, GreenInCities, DivAirCity, and URBREATH projects to reflect on tools, methodologies, and lessons learned from more than 30 urban interventions across Europe.

The panel focused on how cities can integrate NBS into planning strategies while ensuring inclusion, biodiversity, and climate resilience. Each project offered unique insights into the systemic integration of digital tools, citizen engagement, and environmental sustainability.

Key Insights from the Discussion

1. Nature-Based Solutions as Systemic Tools
   Panellists described NBS as multi-functional interventions—from tree planting and riverfront restoration to green rooftops—that simultaneously address climate adaptation, social cohesion, and urban regeneration. Speakers emphasised that NBS should not be seen as “add-ons” but as central elements of urban design that unite environmental, cultural, and social goals.

2. Monitoring and Impact Measurement
   Robust measurement frameworks were highlighted across the board. For instance, ReGreeneration uses more than 200 key performance indicators (KPIs), while URBREATH and GreenInCities rely on digital twins and mixed methods (quantitative and qualitative) to monitor outcomes such as biodiversity, cooling effects, and carbon storage.

3. Digital Tools Empower Citizens and Planners
   Digital twins, co-creation platforms, and geospatial applications were presented as essential instruments for public engagement and informed planning. URBREATH’s work in Athens was highlighted as an example of how citizens can interact with planning data to shape green interventions.

4. Inclusion at the Core
   DivAirCity showcased their intersectional inclusion model, which recognises six UN-defined vulnerability categories. This people-centred approach includes “in-situ” conversations with underrepresented groups and participatory designs that account for non-human life, such as migratory birds. The panel underscored that inclusion is not just about participation—it also requires acknowledging and filling data gaps that often exclude marginalised voices.

5. Addressing Urban Climate Risks
   Panel members discussed context-specific responses to climate challenges: from polluted snow in Tallinn to seasonal ecological activity in colder climates like Helsinki and Sofia. In each case, NBS were adapted to local environmental and social realities.

6. Real-World Challenges
   Despite their promise, panellists acknowledged that NBS face political, financial, and practical barriers—including resistance to change, land use trade-offs (e.g. parking vs. green space), and emotionally charged participatory processes that require skilled facilitation.

Closing Reflections

Quotes from the session offered memorable reminders of the mindset shift required to advance inclusive, sustainable cities:

• “Nature is not something extra—it is a tool to make our cities safer and stronger.” – Marina Klitsi, URBREATH

• “Let go of the illusion of control. Talk about values, not facts.” – Max Beijneveld, URBREATH

The session concluded with a clear message: integration is essential. Climate-resilient cities must blend nature, technology, and participatory design, always keeping people—and the planet—at the centre.

You can access the full report ‘Building Inclusive and Climate-Resilient Cities: Insights from Nature-Based Solutions Projects Across Europe, report by URBREATH team’ here.