European Innovation Platform Action Group NatureWat (AG228)

Abstract

This chapter discusses the European Innovation Partnership (EIP), together with the EIP Action Group NatureWat. Almost half of European freshwater bodies are currently not achieving the good ecological status set by the EU Water Framework Directive. Water scarcity, droughts and floods are an increasingly frequent and widespread phenomenon in the European and non-European countries. In this scenario, NBS are proven to be cost-effective solutions for wastewater treatment, climate change mitigation, disaster risk reduction, flood protection, greening cities, degraded areas restoration and biodiversity preservation. Their success is related to good performance, potential low maintenance and operational costs, minimised energy requirements, resulting in improved environmental and public health. NatureWat has been formally adopted as an action group within the EIP Water structure. The members of the action group are presented together with particular issues which the action group will seek to address. This Action Group aims to identify and overcome bottlenecks and barriers (e.g. market opportunities, policy implementation, financial issues and technical aspects) related to nature-based solutions for water resources management in rural, peri-urban and urban areas of European and non-European countries. The final goal is to define innovative marketable technologies addressing water challenges related to ecosystem services (www.eip-water.eu/NatureWat).