Stay connected
Learn about the latest research and results from the project.
Subscribe to the NATURANCE Newsletter!
Join our podcast “NATURANCE Talks“
Naturethon
The citizen groups meetings are designed to tap into the collective understanding of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) deployment and to stimulate discussions around their financial mechanisms and instruments.
Empowering Communities
NATURANCE powered far-reaching initiatives to organize citizen group meetings throughout Europe and beyond, focused on identifying innovative financial strategies for NbS in the context of climate action and disaster risk mitigation.
Through the Naturethon initiative, citizens and non-experts were invited to exchange ideas, supported by the NATURANCE team through scientific knowledge sharing and dialogues with experts.
The first round of the Naturethon initiative, titled “Navigating new paths for NbS Finance“, ran from June to September 2024, while the second, named “Citizens Growing Nature-Based Futures“, ran from September to December 2025.
A series of in-person and online events, titled “Naturethon+“, was organised to engage specific stakeholders between the two calls.
Subscribe the Naturethon newsletter and join the change!
Concept
The concept of the Naturethon was inspired by previous and successful experiences such as the EU Conference on the Future of Europe and the Climathon events.
For the effective implementation of the initiative, the framework was developed according to the European Commission’s “Code of Practice on Citizen Engagement for Knowledge Valorisation”.
Format
Naturethon brings together individuals interested in local adaptation to climate-related risks, fostering purposeful dialogue and the exchange of perspectives. Through these conversations, participants contributes to reshaping how Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are understood, embraced, and brought to life within their communities.
0 – Naturethon newsletter
Participants are invited to stay up to date with event invitations and resources through a dedicated newsletter throughout the citizen engagement process.
1 – Supporting activities
Leading experts in NbS are hosted in a series of online sessions featuring knowledge sharing and training opportunities through a collaborative online platform.
2 – Group and community dialogue
Building on the knowledge and insights gained from the training sessions and newsletter updates, groups are well prepared to actively contribute to the deployment of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in their local areas through community dialogue.
3 – Ideas sharing
Participants are encouraged to share their ideas using their preferred format—text, drawings, videos, or other creative media. All forms of expression are welcome and valued as ways to present envisioned solutions.
Hints & Tips
- Encourage your friends, colleagues, and community members to join the discussions and explore opportunities to make a difference right in your local area.
- Not part of a group? No worries! You can always join others, and individual participation is also welcome. However, are you sure no one around you would be interested in improving your local context?
- Focus your idea on specific environmental challenges, identifying clear and actionable Nature-based Solutions.
- Make use of the resources and expertise available in the project’s Digital Library to develop tailored solutions and explore opportunities for collaboration within your community.
Review and award
All members of each group received a Certificate of Participation, while representatives of the winning groups were invited to present their ideas at the project’s 2025 Webstival (first round) or 2026 Festival (second round), sharing their vision with a wider audience. In honour of each awarded group, a tree was planted in the Naturethon forest, creating a living legacy of their impact. Additionally, all members of the awarded groups received a NATURANCE water bottle.
Updates
18 - December - 2025
The NbS ideas submitted by citizens were evaluated based on feasibility, innovation, and creativity. Out of all the submissions, the awarding committee identified three proposals that particularly stood out.
03 - December - 2025
With over 400 participants, the conference stands as a leading national platform for institutions, researchers, and practitioners, promoting innovation in science communication.
05 - September - 2025
The second edition of Naturance’s citizen engagement initiative features three hands-on training events in October and November 2025. Train your idea and showcase it at the Festival on Finance and Nature in Brussels!
21 - July - 2025
Their project, titled "Nature-based Solutions for Long-Term Flood Resilience in Valencia, Spain: An Evaluation of Potential Green Infrastructure Strategies", fully embraces the application of NbS in an urban context.
14 - July - 2025
C'è tempo fino al 31 luglio per iscriversi al corso sui Piani d’Azione per l’Energia Sostenibile e il Clima riservato ai docenti della scuola secondaria. L'iniziativa, che si svolgerà online dal 25 al 29 agosto, è promossa da INDIRE, EuCliPa.it e CMCC.
24 - June - 2025
Ultimo appuntamento della serie Naturethon+, che prevede una serie di incontri mirati con alcune categorie di stakeholder. Andrea Staccione e Nicoletta Boi hanno dialogato con gli studenti del Master in Comunicazione della Scienza e della Salute dell'ateneo milanese.
12 - March - 2025
The distribution process of the water bottles to farmers finally took place: Terhile Dominic Uchi organised an informal but significant ceremony sharing with the Naturethon team a few pictures and videos of it.
24 - February - 2025
The third event of the Naturethon+ series took place on February 24th as a dedicated session of the "Environmental Management in Planning" course led by Jerker Jarsjö.
14 - February - 2025
Coordinators of the three groups awarded in the 2024 round shown their proposals during the second day of the virtual festival. Later on, attendees were engaged in a live session of the Naturethon.
12 - December - 2024
The proposals submitted by citizen groups has been evaluated in terms of feasibility, innovation, and creativity. The committee found that four proposals in particular stood out amongst the rest.
05 - December - 2024
Sabato 7 dicembre NATURANCE ha partecipato all'evento conclusivo del progetto "Changemakers for Climate Justice - Giovani in azione per la giustizia climatica".
18 - September - 2024
The call for proposals of this citizen engagement initiative, designed to tap into the collective understanding of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) deployment, will close on September 30.
17 - May - 2024
Have a sneak peak at the festival content by watching our expert keynotes on topics including ecosystem-based approaches, financial strategies such as green finance, project origination, insurance protection, and the EU policy landscape concerning Nature-based Solutions investment. The list is continuously updated!
Naturethon webinars
7 Videos
Hints & Tips
Encourage your friends, colleagues, and community members to join the discussions and explore opportunities to make a difference right in your local area.