“Nature-based solutions have long existed as a concept and are not an additional or ‘luxury’ approach, but rather a core component that should be integrated into the early stages of urban development and spatial planning,” Birgit Picker, Director General for Sustainable Development and Climate at Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, said during a panel discussion at the “Climate and Housing Nexus” event organized within the framework of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) held in Baku, APA reports.
According to her, the success of this approach depends precisely on timely planning.
It was emphasized during the discussion that nature-based solutions should be integrated into urban planning, land use integration, construction standards, and infrastructure design. Germany’s “sponge city” concept was cited as an example. This model is particularly applied in cities with a high flood risk in order to improve both water management and resilience against heat waves.
She also touched upon cooperation with partner countries such as Mexico and Morocco, noting that urban planning, digital technologies, and climate policy together create innovative solutions.
Addressing the issue of financing, Picker stressed that municipalities must be financially empowered in order to implement these solutions.
“Currently, in the budgets of many cities, nature-based solutions are still not integrated at the same level as standard infrastructure such as roads or building construction. Therefore, it is important to improve financial frameworks and budget planning at the local level,” she emphasized.
She noted that this issue is not only about the environment, but also about building healthier and more resilient communities.
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