RIFS Potsdam 25d ago

As part of its work to support healthier and more sustainable cities, Net4Cities hosted a public webinar titled “Nature-Based Solutions for Cities: Reducing Air and Noise Pollution” on 4 June 2026. Urban air and noise pollution remain among the most significant environmental health challenges in Europe, contributing to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, stress, sleep disturbance, and reduced quality of life. Nature-Based Solutions (NbS), such as street trees, green roofs, vegetated corridors, pocket parks, and green noise barriers, are increasingly recognised as valuable tools for improving urban environments while delivering important health and well-being benefits. This joint webinar, organised by the Net4Cities and MI-TRAP projects, explored the latest research, experiences, and challenges related to the implementation of Nature-Based Solutions for reducing air and noise pollution in cities. The session featured expert insights from: - Jaume Fons-Esteve and Hai-Ying Liu (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and NILU, Net4Cities project) presented the latest findings from Net4Cities on the role of Nature-Based Solutions in mitigating air and noise pollution. Their presentation examined the current scientific evidence on the effectiveness of NbS, the challenges associated with assessing their impacts, and the broader health and liveability co-benefits that green infrastructure can provide. - Maria Stella Lux and Stavroula Kopelia (Politecnico di Milano, MI-TRAP project), who presented “Co-designing Nature-Based Solutions: MI-TRAP labs in Milan, Athens and Lisbon”. Their presentation showcased how students and teachers are involved in the co-design of Nature-Based Solutions around schools, combining environmental monitoring, education, and urban transformation to address mobility-related pollution. The webinar concluded with a live Q&A session, allowing participants to engage directly with the speakers and discuss opportunities and challenges related to implementing Nature-Based Solutions in urban environments. Who is this video for? Urban planners, city representatives, researchers, environmental and public health professionals, policymakers, and anyone interested in creating cleaner, quieter, and healthier cities through Nature-Based Solutions. About Net4Cities Net4Cities is a Horizon Europe project funded by the European Union, supporting cities in addressing transport-related air and noise pollution through advanced monitoring, data integration, and evidence-based solutions. Learn more about the project and subscribe to our newsletter: 👉 https://www.net4cities.eu Follow Net4Cities on LinkedIn: 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/company/net4cities Follow Net4Cities on Bluesky: 👉 https://bsky.app/profile/net4cities.bsky.social