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Enhancing Environmental Education Through Nature-Based Solutions pp 397–411Cite as

Nature-Based Solutions for Water Pollution Control: Promoting Environmental Education Through Case Studies

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Part of the book series: Integrated Science ((IS,volume 4))

Abstract

As we are increasingly becoming aware of the complex global environmental issues and their impact on our societies and everyday life, we realize that the traditional problem-solving approach cannot provide effective solutions anymore. The transition to a circular economy where resources efficiency, waste minimization, and zero emission are the target requires new tools and a new approach. Nature-based solutions (NBS) are concepts inspired by nature that can provide such alternative solutions along with ecosystem services, improved well-being and resiliency. However, the capacities and the educational potential of NBS remains largely unexplored and such innovative programmes and resources around NBS are currently missing from formal and informal education programmes both for professional engineers and practitioners as well as students and academics. This chapter proposes that this gap can be closed through the implementation of NBS case studies in collaboration with educational institutions that can widen the audience that can access and learn from such initiatives. For this, different NBS demonstration projects are presented from around the world related to wastewater management and reuse.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Environmental Engineering and Management, School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, 73100, Chania, Greece

    Alexandros I. Stefanakis

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  1. Alexandros I. Stefanakis
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Correspondence to Alexandros I. Stefanakis .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Science, CIMAR, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Clara Vasconcelos

  2. CIMAR, University of Porto, Matosinhos, Portugal

    Cristina S. C. Calheiros

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Stefanakis, A.I. (2022). Nature-Based Solutions for Water Pollution Control: Promoting Environmental Education Through Case Studies. In: Vasconcelos, C., Calheiros, C.S.C. (eds) Enhancing Environmental Education Through Nature-Based Solutions. Integrated Science, vol 4. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-91843-9_23

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