THE EUROPEAN UNION REGENERATIVE URBAN LIGHTHOUSE:
UPSURGE provides a new development model for cities, 
centered on Nature-Based Solutions for renaturing urban space, 
to address the challenge of  cities’ carbon footprint and air pollution
upsurge-logo-white

UPSURGE’s main objective is to build the EU Regenerative Urban Lighthouse as a reference framework offering guided support on how tested and verified NBS can be strategically implemented to significantly improve the multitude of problems faced by cities.

The Lighthouse will be a knowledge and practice-based European framework created on real-life tested NBS practices implemented by different innovative EU cities, research institutions and companies. As the knowledge core of the Lighthouse, the Urban Regenerative Development.

Map of the 5 large demonstrations in Europe: Belfast, Breda, Budapest, Katowice, Maribor.

Latest news

  • Research Milestone: New publication!

    Research Milestone: New publication!

    In-depth analysis of ongoing research about urban residents’ preferences for NBS has been published with the title “Leveraging nature for just cities: Planning nature-based solutions in Greece” in Urban Forestry & Urban Greening. The research discusses important aspect of social justice in cities when it comes to residents’ access to NbS and green spaces. Initial…

  • UPSURGE on the Radio Katowice in “Topic for Discussion”

    UPSURGE on the Radio Katowice in “Topic for Discussion”

    As part of the regular Radio Katowice programme titled “Topic for Discussion,” Anna Starzewska-Sikorska from IETU and Magdalena Biela from the Municipal Greenery Department were invited to participate in a broadcast to discuss nature-based solutions. The conversation particularly focused on the role of these solutions (known as NbS) in urban spaces, public awareness of them,…

  • UPSUGE bi-annual project group meeting

    UPSUGE bi-annual project group meeting

    Queen’s University Belfast and Belfast City Council hosted a bi-annual project group meeting for the UPSURGE in September 2024. The following video, that was commissioned by Queen’s University Belfast, captures perspectives on the impact of UPSURGE, highlighting progress in implementing nature-based solutions (NBS) in Belfast. It was jointly funded by Belfast City Council and the…