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Podcast
NATURANCE Talks is NATURANCE’s podcast, exploring how Nature-based Solutions (NbS) can advance climate adaptation and risk management. Hosted by Melissa Herlitz and Fulvio Biddau, the series delves into topics such as insurance, sustainable finance, and community resilience. Each episode breaks down complex ideas into practical examples, showing how working with nature delivers environmental, social, and economic benefits.
Episode 1
Transformative Adaptation and NbS to cope with and fight climate change
Melissa and Fulvio introduce the concepts of transformative adaptation and Nature-based Solutions — strategies to tackle climate change by working with nature. Together with expert Jaroslav Mysiak from the CMCC – Euro Mediterranean Center on Climate Change, they explore how rethinking our habits and urban systems can address the root causes of vulnerability, and how NbS can make our cities more resilient, livable, and sustainable.
Episode 2
What is Europe's insurance protection gap?
Let us unpack the concept of Europe’s insurance protection gap — the difference between total economic losses from natural disasters and those actually covered by insurance. With insights from Stefano Ceolotto of the CMCC – Euro Mediterranean Center on Climate Change, the episode explores why this gap exists, how climate change is widening it, and what can be done to close it through better risk assessment, innovative insurance models, and public–private partnerships.
Episode 3
What is the link between NbS and insurance?
We’re talking about the growing connection between Nature-based Solutions and insurance. With insights from Stefano Ceolotto of the CMCC – Euro Mediterranean Center on Climate Change, the episode unpacks how ecosystems like forests, wetlands, and coral reefs can both benefit from and support insurance mechanisms. From Mexico’s coral reef insurance to innovative forest protection schemes, listeners discover how NbS are reshaping the insurance industry—reducing risk, lowering premiums, and inspiring new models for climate resilience and sustainable finance.
Episode 4
How do we know where to invest in NbS?
The episode explores a key question: how do we know where to invest in Nature-based Solutions? Together with Guillermo García from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, they discuss how data, modelling, and stakeholder engagement help identify where NbS can have the greatest impact—reducing climate risks while providing multiple co-benefits. The episode dives into the science behind decision-making, the importance of high-quality and locally relevant data, and how tools like dynamic modelling and global NbS scans are shaping smarter, more effective investments in nature.
Episode 5
What are the equity implications of investing in nature?
Do we know where equity stands when investing in nature? With insights from Marta Vicarelli of the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the CMCC – Euro Mediterranean Center on Climate Change, the discussion tackles who benefits—and who might be left out—when implementing Nature-based Solutions. From green gentrification in cities to the exclusion of Indigenous communities in rural projects, the episode highlights the importance of participatory and distributional equity. True sustainability, it argues, means ensuring that NbS are not only good for the environment, but fair and inclusive for all.
Episode 6
How do we know if NbS will work?
Let us tackle a crucial question: How do we know if Nature-based Solutions actually work? With insights from Marta Vicarelli of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the episode explores scientific evidence showing that NbS are not only effective at reducing climate risks like floods, droughts, and heatwaves, but also often more cost-effective than traditional engineered infrastructure. Marta also explains the wide range of co-benefits—from cleaner air and biodiversity to recreation and cultural value—that make NbS a win-win for people and the planet.
Episode 7
How do we know if NbS are worth the investment?
We ask a key question: Are Nature-based Solutions really worth the investment? Together with Guillermo García from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, they explore how to measure the true value of NbS—from avoided flood losses to hidden co-benefits like cooling cities or boosting biodiversity. The episode dives into the challenges of quantifying non-market benefits, dealing with uncertainty, and bridging data gaps—especially in the Global South. Real-world examples, from mangrove restoration to green roofs, show how NbS can be both cost-effective and transformative when evaluated through the right lens.
Episode 8
What do communities think about NbS?
Melissa and Fulvio explore what communities really think about Nature-based Solutions. Drawing on research led by Wouter Botzen from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, we unpack how people value different types of urban nature—from parks and street trees to green roofs and walls—using discrete choice experiments. The findings reveal that visibility, interaction, and local context shape public preferences, with biodiversity and cooling effects ranking highest. The episode also highlights how combining surveys with community dialogue can help planners design NbS that are not only effective, but truly embraced by the people they serve.
Episode 9
Given the many benefits of NbS, why aren't they everywhere?
Today’s topic stems from a pressing question: if Nature-based Solutions are so effective, why aren’t they everywhere? With insights from Andrea Staccione of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and the CMCC – Euro Mediterranean Center on Climate Change, the discussion explores the main barriers to scaling NbS — from difficulties in quantifying their full economic value to long implementation times and data challenges. The episode highlights that while public support for NbS is strong, resistance to land-use changes and a lack of standardized assessment methods often slow progress. The takeaway? NbS work — but to make them widespread, we need better valuation tools, stronger policies, and clearer communication of their long-term benefits for people, nature, and resilience.
Episode 10
How can we encourage the adoption of NbS in local and national policy?
In our last episode we’ re going to explore how Nature-based Solutions can move from pilot projects to mainstream policy. With insights from Jaroslav Mysiak of the CMCC – Euro Mediterranean Center on Climate Change, the discussion focuses on the role of standards—shared definitions, principles, and performance metrics that build trust among policymakers, investors, and insurers. The episode highlights how community-developed pre-standards within the NATURANCE project are paving the way for formal international standards, helping to make NbS measurable, replicable, and investment-ready. It’s a hopeful conclusion to the series, showing that with collaboration, clear frameworks, and trust, working with nature can become central to climate and resilience policy.