Nature-Based Solutions: the New UNI EN 18140
Terrestrial ecosystems are subject to growing pressures, including biodiversity loss and the increase in extreme weather events, such as floods and heatwaves, which severely strain their balance and, consequently, that of the human societies that are part of them. To counter these pressures and respond promptly and systemically through non-invasive actions, the scientific community is proposing that public administrations and urban areas adopt Nature-Based Solutions, abbreviated as NbS.
These are concrete actions that use natural ecosystems to address and mitigate climate change, biodiversity loss, and hydrogeological risks.
As of today, UNI EN 18140, "Sustainable cities, communities and infrastructures, Nature-based Solutions (NbS), Terminology and classification", is available in the UNIstore catalogue. This standard establishes terminology designed to support the development of a shared vocabulary. It marks the first milestone in a process launched at the European level by CEN/TC 465/WG 1 "Nature-Based Solutions", which operates within CEN/TC 465 "Sustainable Cities and Communities", the committee created to address issues related to the sustainability of urban areas.
UNI EN 18140 should not be seen as an attempt to regulate nature, an almost impossible task, but rather as a standardization tool that actively supports its protection.
The timeliness and relevance of the topic were confirmed by the strong participation in the conference "Nature-based Solutions: between technical standards, research and best practices", co-organized by UNI, ICESP, the Italian Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform, and NbS Italy Hub, with the support of the European Naturance project and under the patronage of CONAF. The event took place on Monday, March 30, at UNI headquarters in Via Sannio 2, Milan.
During the conference, which was created with the aim of building a bridge between technical standardization and the world of research, the core principles, logic, and methodological choices underlying NbS were presented, drawing on UNI EN 18140 and CWA 18349, "Nature-based insurance and investment solutions".
Alongside the regulatory dimension, the meeting also highlighted the role of applied research and field experience, through the sharing of best practices developed within the NbS Italy Hub and the experiences gathered in the Strategic Focus "Circular Cities and Territories" of the ICESP Platform. The event concluded with several examples of NbS implemented in major Italian cities, including Turin and Milan.
Source: https://www.uni.com/soluzioni-basate-sulla-natura-la-nuova-uni-en-18140/