Integrated governance framework for catchment-fit NBS solutions

For NBS to deliver lasting climate resilience in cities, they must evolve from isolated pilot projects into integrated components of everyday urban governance. This means embedding NBS into core municipal functions—such as land-use planning, construction permitting, infrastructure provision, maintenance, and public health—rather than treating them as standalone interventions.

Achieving this requires clear institutional mandates, cross-departmental coordination, and alignment across planning scales, supported by stable financing mechanisms and enabling policy frameworks.

The NBS model is designed to provide more specific guidance on Planning and design, Risk management, Stakeholder engagement and Maintenance and monitoring. However these cannot work without policy support, operational capacity and learning mindset. Together, these municipal functions ensure that NBS are not only implemented, but systematically planned, operated, and improved over time, delivering multiple benefits at the catchment scale.

Examples on how City Blues cities have established political mandate for catchment-fit NBS

Effective implementation of nature-based solutions begins with clear political commitment and institutional mandates that translate strategic ambitions into actionable responsibilities across municipal departments. Most cities with structured approach to NBS, where NBS are embedded in policies, supported by dedicated organizational structures, and guided by coherent regulatory instruments, have reached there because serious flood events that have brought along significant damage.

It is however clear that institutionalization of NBS is not dependant from catastrophes and can be rolled out also by learning from peers and implementing pilot projects. This transition requires aligning political leadership with financing and resource mobilisation —ensuring that ambitions are backed by stable funding sources, defined responsibilities, and cross-sector coordination. As governance matures, municipalities move from relying on individual champions and external funding towards institutionalised frameworks, where NBS are systematically integrated into planning, budgeting, and infrastructure delivery processes.

Examples – coming soon

Financing models for catchment-fit NBS

Scaling nature-based solutions requires moving beyond short-term project funding towards stable, diversified, and system-oriented financing models. Cities that successfully implement NBS treat them as long-term infrastructure investments, allocating resources not only for construction, but also for planning, modelling, coordination, maintenance, and performance monitoring.

Effective financing combines multiple sources—municipal budgets, utility funding, regulatory instruments, and external funding programmes—while clearly defining who pays for which function and at what scale.

Beyond capital investments, effective NBS implementation requires dedicated resources for enabling functions that ensure long-term performance and scalability. Cities must allocate funding for staff capacity, interdisciplinary coordination, and continuous training, as well as for research, data collection, and hydrological modelling that underpin evidence-based planning and design. Equally important is securing stable budgets for operation, maintenance, and monitoring, as NBS performance evolves over time and depends on proper upkeep and adaptive management. Without these supporting investments, even well-designed solutions risk underperforming, limiting their contribution to climate resilience and broader urban benefits.

Examples – coming soon

Coordination

Effective implementation of nature-based solutions requires clear allocation of roles and coordinated action across municipal departments and external stakeholders. NBS cut across traditional sector boundaries—linking water management, spatial planning, public space design, biodiversity, and infrastructure—making interdisciplinary coordination essential rather than optional.

Within municipalities, responsibilities should be structured along the full lifecycle of NBS. Land-use planning departments play a key role in embedding NBS requirements into spatial plans, zoning, and development conditions, ensuring that solutions are considered early and at the right scale (e.g. catchment level). Climate or sustainability offices typically provide strategic direction, align NBS with climate adaptation and mitigation goals, and coordinate cross-sector priorities. Technical departments and utilities (e.g. water, roads, drainage) are responsible for system performance, design standards, and integration with grey infrastructure. Environmental departments contribute expertise on biodiversity, ecosystem services, and regulatory compliance, while city maintenance units ensure that implemented solutions remain functional through proper upkeep and adaptive management.

To avoid fragmentation, cities should establish formal coordination mechanisms, such as cross-departmental working groups, shared data platforms (e.g. GIS-based catchment layers), and clearly defined procedures for joint decision-making in planning and project approval. Assigning a lead coordinating role or unit—responsible for overseeing NBS implementation across departments—can significantly improve continuity and accountability.

Crucially, these coordination structures should also function as learning platforms. Cities should actively promote joint learning between departments, projects, and stakeholders—for example through regular review meetings, shared monitoring results, pilot evaluations, and collaboration with researchers and peer cities. This enables continuous refinement of design standards, planning approaches, and governance practices based on real-world performance and experience.

Examples – coming soon