| Guest blog | Science- Policy- Practice Interface Co-Designing Blue-Green Infrastructure for Urban Biodiversity and Transformation

Written by Tural Aliyev

In the face of accelerating urbanisation and ecological degradation, reimagining cities as inclusive, resilient, and nature-positive spaces has become an urgent priority for sustainable development. Responding to this call, a diverse consortium of Swiss research institutions, international organizations, urban practitioners, and policy actors convened for a half-day roundtable at Campus Biotech, University of Geneva, in April 2025, held in the context of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe’s Regional Forum on Sustainable Development.

Organized by Eawag and WSL as part of the GreenCityNet project, with the support of the Geneva UN Charter Centre for Excellence of the University of Geneva and Fondation Braillard Architectes, the roundtable served as a platform to explore the science-policy-practice interface in co-designing blue-green infrastructure (BGI) for urban biodiversity and transformation.

Bringing together twenty experts from research, government, and international organizations, the event facilitated a participatory exchange on advancing Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in urban environments. Participants examined the institutional, spatial, and conceptual challenges to integrating biodiversity into city planning and governance.

Four key priorities emerged:

-      Strengthening communication and coordination across governance levels;

-      Embedding ecological thinking into the core of urban design;

-      Leveraging ecosystem co-benefits to frame NbS;

-      Securing political will through strategic narratives and stakeholder engagement.

These insights offer a shared foundation for implementing BGI as a transformative tool—linking human well-being, ecological restoration, and urban resilience.

The report distills the main takeaways and collaborative spirit of the Geneva roundtable, contributing to broader efforts within International Geneva to advance integrated, evidence-informed urban sustainability.