Advancing Just, Equitable and Inclusive Nature-based Solutions
One-day symposium on nature-based solutions in cities
- Date
- 22 October 2026
- Time
- 09:00 -18:00
- Location
- Roeterseilandcampus - building J/K
- Room
- JKTB.22 and JKTB.24
Nature-based Solutions are increasingly being used by cities to address challenges such as climate change and urban resilience. Yet their implementation also raises important questions about justice, inclusion, participation and who benefits from urban greening interventions.
This one-day symposium brings together researchers working on Nature-based Solutions from a range of disciplinary perspectives. Through keynote lectures, research presentations, parallel sessions and plenary discussion, participants will explore how Nature-based Solutions can contribute to more just, equitable and inclusive urban futures.
The symposium marks the conclusion of the GREEN-INC project, which examined the effectiveness and equitability of green climate adaptation interventions in five partner cities.
Organisers
Keynote speakers
Transforming with or transformed by Nature-based Solutions: Rethinking how we plan cities with nature
Niki Frantzeskaki is Chair Professor of Regional and Metropolitan Governance and Planning at Utrecht University and a leading scholar on the governance and planning of Nature-based Solutions, climate resilience and just urban futures.
“Nature does not Exist!”: The Antinomies of Nature-based Solutions
Erik Swyngedouw is Professor of Human Geography at the University of Manchester and a leading scholar in Urban Political Ecology. His work critically examines the political and economic processes shaping uneven and unjust urban landscapes, including dominant approaches to climate change and Nature-based Solutions.
The keynote lectures will be followed by a dialogue between the two speakers, moderated by Jannes Willems.
Programme
The symposium starts with registration and coffee at 09:00, followed by the keynote session at 09:30. Jannes Willems will present findings from the GREEN-INC project at 11:15.
After lunch, two rounds of parallel sessions will explore alternative framings of Nature-based Solutions, participatory policymaking, the politics of NbS, and co-creating NbS.
The day concludes with a plenary discussion on realising the transformative potential of Nature-based Solutions, followed by drinks at CREA from 17:00.
Registration
Researchers working on related topics are warmly invited to participate. Attendance is free, but registration is required.
Please register by 8 October 2026 by sending an email to Jannes Willems at j.j.willems@uva.nl.
About GREEN-INC
The symposium concludes the GREEN-INC project, which examined the effectiveness and equitability of green climate adaptation interventions in five partner cities.
