International summer school on “Nature-based Solutions for hydro-meteo hazards and climate change adaptation”

Nature-Based solutions, which depend on a healthy biodiversity, make essential contributions to Disaster Risk Reduction and are effective vehicles for transformational change. UNESCO is committed to supporting academia, building capacities, sharing knowledge, and strengthening capacities of young professionals, particularly in the field of Nature-based Solutions, in support of Disaster Risk Reduction. In this context, a 4-day training centered around Nature-based Solutions for hydro-meteorological hazards and climate change adaptation allowed 23 participants from all over the world to gain knowledge on innovative solutions to reduce disaster risks.

It was organized by UNESCO, together with the Department of Physics and Astronomy (DIFA) of Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna and OPERANDUM H2020 project partners (Finnish Meteorological Institute, KAJO, Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, Rica-C, TU Delft and University of Glasgow), from 29 August 29 to 1 September 2022, in Bologna, Italy.

Centered around the EU-funded projects OPERANDUM (Open-Air Laboratories for Nature-based Solutions to manage environmental risk) and PHUSICOS - "According to Nature", the summer school aimed to co-design, implement, and assess the effectiveness of Nature-based Solutions (NBS) to hydro-meteorological hazards in several case study sites, particularly in rural areas.

The 4-day training included lectures from recognized experts and scientists, discussions with local stakeholders, group work on a case site, and a field trip to one of the EU Open-Air Laboratory, The Volano Beach (Italy). Throughout lectures, the 23 students gained knowledge on the selection process of NBS for specific hydro-meteorological hazards and familiarized themselves with modelling and monitoring methodologies to assess the efficacy of proposed solutions. Field visits presented stakeholder engagement strategy, co-design and co-deployment process, dissemination, and replication activities. The training gave them the tools to present a proposal, on the last day of school, and defend it to the Board of Stakeholders from Emilia-Romagna region, in order to convince them of the relevance and effectiveness of Nature-based Solutions for reducing risks at a given case study.

Having received positive feedback by both lecturers and students of the 1^st OPERANDUM summer school and having measured the consequent interest around Nature-based Solutions and OPERANDUM, UNESCO and organizers agreed in principle on contributing to establishing an annual series of the summer school. The subsequent series would aim not only to present in more detail implemented solutions from other OPERANDUM case studies, as well as advancements in science, policy, and engineering in the field of Nature-based Solutions for hydro-meteorological risk reduction and climate change adaptation, but also highlight insights and updated results on the sustainability and long-term efficacy of local solutions.