Local authorities are increasingly recognising that sustainable cities start with educated, empowered communities. The Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) Education Summit 2025, hosted by NBS EduWORLD, offered valuable insights for municipalities striving to embed sustainability into education systems and urban development. Held online on 27 March 2025, the Summit gathered over 150 experts, educators, and policy influencers across Europe to accelerate the mainstreaming of NBS through education at all levels.

Why this matters for local governments

Embedding NBS into formal and non-formal education empowers communities to co-create greener, more resilient neighbourhoods. By supporting schools, vocational institutions, and universities in adopting nature-based practices, municipalities can play a central role in shaping long-term environmental stewardship and climate resilience from the ground up.

Key takeaways for local actors:

• Policy frameworks that support local action: The Summit underscored how tools like the EU’s GreenComp can guide local and regional authorities in supporting sustainability education in schools and beyond. Keynote speaker Deirdre Hodson from the European Commission emphasised the importance of teacher networks, Erasmus+ initiatives, and local policy alignment in overcoming curricular barriers.
• Living Labs in schools – opportunities for municipal collaboration: Projects like COOLSCHOOLS show how schoolyards can be transformed into biodiverse, climate-adaptive spaces that promote wellbeing and learning. These Living Labs are already being supported by local governments as part of green urban strategies—providing replicable models for cities and regions.
• Workforce development and green skills: The event spotlighted how NBS education in vocational and higher education—through projects like eNaBlS and NBS EduWORLD—can build a future workforce equipped to implement sustainable infrastructure. Local authorities involved in workforce development and public procurement have a critical role to play in scaling up these initiatives.
• Actionable policy insights: A dedicated policy workshop at the Summit gathered feedback on how to better integrate NBS into early childhood, primary, secondary, and adult education. The policy recommendations, expected in August 2025, will offer municipalities concrete strategies to support sustainability transitions through education and capacity-building.

A call to local leadership

The Summit’s core message is clear: local authorities are not just stakeholders—they are enablers. By investing in school infrastructure, supporting teacher training, and connecting education initiatives with broader sustainability goals, municipalities can help deliver the EU Green Deal and advance local climate plans.

Stay connected with NBS EduWORLD for access to resources and upcoming policy briefs that can support your city or region’s sustainability and education agenda.