NBS4EU Cluster at ECCA 2025: Advancing Nature-based Solutions for Climate Resilience 

The final day of ECCA2025 (European Climate Change Adaptation Conference) marked the close of a significant international forum dedicated to sharing knowledge, progress, and best practices in climate adaptation across Europe. 

As part of this collective effort, the NBS4EU cluster; a coalition of seven Horizon Europe-funded projects (ARCADIA, CARDIMED, DESIRMED, LAND4CLIMAT, MOUNTRESILIENCE, NATALIE, and NBRACER), actively contributed to the conference, reaffirming its commitment to the development and implementation of Nature-based Solutions as a key pathway to enhancing climate resilience across diverse European regions. 

Cluster Contributions at ECCA2025 

June 17 2025 

Session: Strengthening Coastal Adaptation in EU Regions 

The session titled “Strengthening coastal adaptation in EU regions: closing gaps on Nature-based Solutions” was co-chaired by Elena Allegri (CMCC) and Stefano Gamberoni, (Deltares). This session convened experts and stakeholders from multiple European regions to present their experiences and strategies in addressing climate risks in coastal zones. 

The primary objective of the session was to showcase the ongoing research and innovation journey about climate adaptation in coastal areas, highlighting how various EU-funded projects are contributing to enhanced regional resilience through the deployment of Nature-based Solutions. The session featured regional contributions from: 

• The Tuscany Region, presenting work conducted under the Region4Climate project; 

• The Venice Lagoon, represented through the REST-COAST initiative; 

• Split-Dalmatia County, highlighting its involvement in the DESIRMED project; 

• West-Flanders, with insights provided by Ine Soenen and Els de Roeck on behalf of NBRACER. 

This session enabled a meaningful exchange of knowledge among regions by exploring the research and innovation journey across three temporal dimensions, past achievements, present practices, and future pathways, guiding adaptation in coastal areas. 

Session: Nature-based Solutions in Action 

The second session, entitled “Nature-based Solutions in action: scaling resilience pathways to face climate extremes”, was chaired by Elisa Furlan (CMCC), NBS4EU cluster and DesirMED project 

This session focused on: 

• Showcasing best practices from five distinct case studies;  

• Reflecting on key lessons from the implementation of pilot projects; 

• Exploring pathways to mainstream NBS into public policy, planning, and investment frameworks. 

Discussions addressed the practical challenges and enabling conditions necessary for upscaling Nature-Based Solutions, with a particular focus on multi-sectoral cooperation and long-term governance models. 

Session: Financing Adaptation through Innovation ? 

On Tuesday, 18 June, the NBS4EU cluster was also represented in a key session organised under the MIP4Adapt Thematic Working Group on Financing Climate Adaptation. The session, titled "Scaling Innovative Adaptation Finance Solutions: Transference of Financial Structures and Instruments, was chaired by Dr. Gloria Salmoral (ICATALIST S.L. / Mission Implementation Platform for Adaptation to Climate Change – MIP4Adapt). 

Co-organised by CLIMATEFIT, SOTERIA, REGILIENCE, CARDIMED, NATALIE, and ARCADIA, the session addressed the question of how to unlock and scale financial support for adaptation, particularly for Nature-based Solutions. It explored: 

• Barriers and opportunities in mobilising adaptation finance; 

• Practical models of blended finance and risk-sharing mechanisms; 

• Cross-project experiences with replicating and adapting financial tools across regions. 

This session reinforced the NBS4EU cluster’s commitment to enabling not only the design and delivery of technical solutions but also the financial conditions necessary for long-term, scalable implementation. 

As ECCA2025 concluded, the NBS4EU cluster reaffirmed its role in supporting the advancement of Nature-based Solutions as an essential approach to climate adaptation across Europe. By contributing to key sessions on coastal resilience, implementation strategies, and innovative financing, the cluster highlighted the collective work of its seven Horizon Europe-funded projects in fostering collaboration, sharing knowledge, and promoting practical solutions. Looking ahead, the NBS4EU cluster remains dedicated to supporting European regions in their efforts to implement effective, scalable, and sustainable Nature-based Solutions, reinforcing a shared commitment to building long-term climate resilience journey.