Innovation in the Public Sector

As part of the capacity development programme “Innovation in Governance for Urban Nature-based Solutions”, short educational films have been produced to showcase how the multiple features of nature are being integrated and planned with in the different municipal landscapes of Lund, Sweden.

“One of the foundational ideas of the programme is to use real cases of NBS as part of the learning experience, not the least to inspire participants in their sustainable urban development work”, says Bernadett Kiss — lecturer and research associate at the International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics (IIIEE).

NBS are multifunctional solutions

NBS are typically blue and green infrastructure being implemented to address the risks of climate change, including adaptation to heat stress in cities, enhancing the quality and quantity of water available under drought conditions, mitigating the impacts of urban flooding, while enhancing biodiversity. In the social sphere, such solutions contribute to benefits including improvements to physical and mental health, access to green space creating opportunities for play and recreation, fostering greater inclusion, and addressing environmental justice needs. The films, presented further down, display different examples of multifunctional NBS, like storm-water dams, urban parks and diverse types of trees and vegetation, including examples such as how an “unwanted site”, an old landfill can be transformed into a useful, popular and multipurpose space in a city.

Focus on governance and leadership innovation

The multidisciplinary programme focuses on governance and leadership innovation in the area of nature-based solutions (NBS) for improved urban environments. It is financed by the Swedish Institute as part of the Public Sector Innovation programme to contribute to the 2030 Agenda. It is coordinated by Lund University’s International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics (IIIEE) in collaboration with guest teachers from various departments at Lund University and in partnership with international organizations. Support is given by Lund University Commissioned Education (LUCE), the department at the university focusing on professional development and capacity building programmes.

The films on Nature-based solutions (NBS) are presented below