A complex array of interrelated problems stemming from climate change and biodiversity loss create significant health risks. Participatory approaches, digital innovation and future scenario development with citizens and local authorities can be used to promote health and build capacity to solve problems at the community and city level. Global, European and national policies have emerged to address these challenges, emphasising mitigation, adaptation and resilience. In this context, the EU-funded Horizon Europe GO GREEN NEXT project aims to deliver evidence-based policies and pilot projects in four European biogeographic regions, addressing the nexus between biodiversity, climate and planetary health. Specifically, it uses nature-based solutions and collaboration with global initiatives to reverse environmental degradation, particularly in urban areas vulnerable to climate change.

GoGreenNext has the ambition of supporting cities and regions to achieve their climate targets. The project will reach this goal by implementing original nature-based approaches such as pop-up parks or natural living rooms. We have 19 partners across the globe including Switzerland, Norway, Spain, Canada and the USA. In our pilot areas Cork (Ireland), Klagenfurt (Austria), Malta (Malta) and Päijät-Häme Region (Finland), we address biodiversity-climate-planetary challenges by advancing policy through evidence-based development.

At Maynooth University, GoGreenNext involves researchers from the School of Law, Department of Psychology, Department of Maths and Statistics, and Department of Sport Science and Nutrition, in addition to being based at IVI.