Operationalising nature-based solutions for mitigating hydro-meteorological hazards

Operationalising nature-based solutions for mitigating hydro-meteorological hazards

 Prashant Kumar^1,*, Sisay Debele¹, Jeetendra Sahani¹, Silvana Di Sabatino²

 ¹Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, United Kingdom

²Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 6/2, 40127, Bologna, Italy

^*Presenting author. Email: p.kumar@surrey.ac.uk

Abstract

The impact of weather- and climate-related hydro-meteorological hazards (HMHs) is amongst the greatest global challenges society is facing today. The concept of nature-based solution (NBS) is becoming popular for HMH management but the lack of knowledge on NBS designing and effectiveness is hindering its wider acceptance. This work discusses HMH risk analysis, relevant data, the role of NBS and its operationalisation by bringing co-design concept and testing them in OPERANDUM project’s open-air laboratories (OALs). HMH risk assessment employs different methodologies with respect to exposure, vulnerability and adaptation interaction of the elements at risk. The classification and effectiveness of any NBS depend on its location, design, typology and environmental conditions. OALs, via the collaboration of researchers and end-users, can foster increasing uptake, upscaling, replication and implementation of NBS projects as compared to traditional grey infrastructure approach. Multi-hazard risk analysis and inclusion of NBS into policy plans can foster NBS operationalisation processes across all sectors and at levels by fostering participatory processes such as co-design, co-creation and co-management among municipalities, researches, policy-makers, funding agencies and other stakeholders; and can inspire more effective use of skills, knowledge, manpower, as well as economic, social and cultural resources. NBS data monitoring, its standardisation, accessible storage and compliance with existing standard metadata is needed. The monitoring and evaluation manuals and guidelines are needed to decrease uncertainty about performance and overall cost-effectiveness of NBS and overcome potential hurdles to create long-term stability and enhance the wider uptake of NBS.   

Keywords: Hydro-meteorological hazards, nature-based solution, climate change, policy, co-design, co-creation, operationalisation 

Acknowledgements: This work is carried out under the framework of OPERANDUM (OPEn-air laboRAtories for Nature baseD solUtions to Manage hydro-meteo risks) project, which is funded by the Horizon 2020 under the Grant Agreement No: 776848. We thank OPERANDUM collaborators (Laura Leo, Francesca Barisanid, Bidroha Basu, Edoardo Bucchignani,  Nikos Charizopoulosg, Alessio Domeneghetti,  Albert Sorolla Edo, Leena Finér, Glauco Gallotti,  Sanne Juch, Michael Loupis, Slobodan B. Mickovski, Depy Panga, Irina Pavlova, Francesco Pilla, Adrian Löchner Prat, Fabrice G. Renaud, Martin Rutzinges,  Arunima Sarkar, Mohammad Aminur Rahman Shah, Katriina Soini, Maria Stefanopoulou, Elena Toth, Liisa Ukonmaanaho, Sasa Vranic, Thomas Zieher, for their contributions.