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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

Mobilizing public and citizen engagement is essential for inclusive practices toward social change, fostering a sense of empowerment and creating conditions of full transparency, accountability, and trust. NATURANCE powers 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 are invited to exchange ideas, supported by the NATURANCE team through scientific knowledge sharing and dialogues with experts. The first round of the Naturethon initiative ran from June to September 2024 while the second one will take place from September to December 2025.

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381

Participants

76

Groups

13

In-person and
online events

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

The Naturethon team will carefully review all submissions, providing constructive feedback to help shape feasible and impactful actions. Every group will receive a certificate of participation. Winning proposals will be celebrated with the planting of a tree in the group’s name through Treedom, along with a NATURANCE water bottle for each member.

In addition, representatives of the three proposals that stand out for their innovation, feasibility, and social and environmental impact will be invited to the Finance Innovation Festival in Brussels (February 3–5, 2026). There, they will present the key highlights of their ideas to an audience of international professionals, gaining valuable feedback and suggestions for further development.

Updates

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.