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Heatwaves have become very common these days in every country worldwide as a predicted outcome of global warming and consequent climate change. These have been related to the greatest number of deaths than caused by any other natural hazard. There are number of solutions to reduce the heat risk by cooling down the surroundings. These solutions traditionally have been artificial, such as air conditioning, fans, reflective painting etc. However, these solutions cannot be permanent and give rise to positive feedback into the loop of global warming causes, having a greater carbon footprint. On the other hand, nature-based solutions (NBS), such as vegetation-or water- based solutions (green areas, lakes, ponds etc.) are being promoted as cost-effective and sustainable strategies for cooling the environment and managing the associated risk of heatwaves. Current work builds evidence of such NBS for extreme temperature risk reduction through temperature monitoring exercise. Every minute data for air temperature and relative humidity were monitored in the vicinity of four different land cover types, i.e. grassland, forest, lake, and urban areas during summer (June-September) of 2021 in Guildford, a representative bucolic town of Surrey county in southeast England, UK. It was found that trees were the most effective solution in keeping the surrounding temperature lower than reference temperature measured in open ground or urban built areas. Lake and grassland followed the sequence in temperature reduction efficiency. This research will help promote more sustainable way of heat risk reduction and better town or city planning if the results are combined with spatial mapping of high risk and vulnerable regions for heatwaves.

With ongoing climate change, the number, frequency, and intensity of events of extremely hot days during summers called heatwaves are progressing. Vulnerability of the population is one aspect responsible for the risk induced by such heatwaves. In society, certain characteristics make one group of people more vulnerable to heatwaves than others, such as poverty, access to cooling facilities, age, gender etc. The current research identifies such vulnerability factors or indicators of population to help in devising heat management strategies. This research focuses on a small bucolic region (Guildford) in Surrey county of the United Kingdom as mostly risk or vulnerability factors are underestimated and ignored in such regions compared to city population. Twelve heat vulnerability factors or indicators (house type, sex, age, ethnicity, place density, access to central heating, residence type: communal, health condition, household composition, disability, accommodation tenure i.e. rented or owned, and education level) were selected after reviewing several literatures to include in the study based on their data availability. Census data on such vulnerability indicators at lower output scale were collected. Principal component analysis was performed, and four major principal components were identified from these 12 factors which explained most of the variance (82 %) in the data. The corresponding loading value of each of these factors were utilised to find heat vulnerability indices for each lower output area and these indices were mapped using QGIS. It was noted that not only people living in town centre which is generally considered hotter and so are highly vulnerable, but outskirt regions were also significantly vulnerable compared to other lesser vulnerable regions. Such a vulnerability map can help authorities for site focused heat mitigation strategies application, early warnings, and preparation during summers, particularly during excessively hot days i.e., heatwaves. Nature-based permanent solution can be encouraged in regions of such highly vulnerable identified regions.

Nature-based solutions (NBS) for climate change adaptation and natural hazard management are receiving much attention in Europe and across the world. It is now seen broadly as a valid measure to manage flood risk sustainably whilst providing significant multiple benefits. However, there is little information regarding its implementation and cost-effectiveness in reducing flood hazard at the watershed scale. This work focuses on NBS for flood risk management along with its challenges, opportunities and advancement. A comprehensive list of NBS used against flood risks was reviewed and the four best NBS – which are effective and economical under current and future climate change scenarios were selected based on multi-criteria decision-making process, and their suitability were tested through physical modelling. The design, optimal allocation and implementation procedures as well as the cost-benefit analyses were presented for the individual NBS. Probability distribution function (GEV model) was used to perform cost-benefit analysis (total expected cost including damage and construction) and flood estimation with and without NBS in place. The analyses showed that the performance and cost-effectiveness of NBS was lesser for short duration while the net benefits increased with time and became higher for the long duration. We formulated a recommended protocol based on the identified challenges, gaps and success for designing robust and effective NBS, its implementation, monitoring, evaluation, uptake and replication which could inform engineers, landscape architects, city planners, policy/decision-makers. This study builds up solid evidence base showcasing the benefits of flood NBS ensuring long-term sustainability and supply of ecosystem-services.

Hydro-meteorological risk (HMR) management involves a range of methods, such as monitoring of uncertain climate, planning and prevention by technical countermeasures, risk assessment, preparedness for risk by early warnings, spreading knowledge and awareness, response and recovery. To execute HMR management by risk assessment, many models and tools, ranging from conceptual to sophisticated/numerical methods are currently in use. However, there is still a gap in systematically classifying and documenting them in the field of disaster risk management. This paper discusses various methods used for HMR assessment and its management via potential nature-based solutions (NBS), which are actually lessons learnt from nature. We focused on three hydrometeorological hazards (HMHs), floods, droughts and heatwaves, and their management by relevant NBS. Different methodologies related to the chosen HMHs are considered with respect to exposure, vulnerability and adaptation interaction of the elements at risk. Two widely used methods for flood risk assessment are fuzzy logic (e.g. fuzzy analytic hierarchy process) and probabilistic methodology (e.g. univariate and multivariate probability distributions). Different kinds of indices have been described in the literature to define drought risk, dependingupon the type of drought and the purpose of evaluation. For heatwave risk estimation, mapping of the vulnerable property and population-based on geographical information system is a widely used methodology in addition to a number of computational, mathematical and statistical methods, such as principal component analysis, extreme value theorem, functional data analysis, the Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process and meta-analysis. NBS (blue, green and hybrid infrastructures) are promoted for HMR management. For example, marshes and wetlands in place of dams for flood and drought risk reduction, and green infrastructure for urban cooling and combating heatwaves, are potential NBS. More research is needed into risk assessment and management through NBS, to enhance its wider significance for sustainable living, building adaptations and resilience.

Nature-based solutions (NBS) are being promoted as adaptive measures against predicted increasing hydrometeorological hazards (HMHs), such as heatwaves and floods which have already caused significant loss of life and economic damage across the globe. However, the underpinning factors such as policy framework, end-users' interests and participation for NBS design and operationalisation are yet to be established. We discuss the operationalisation and implementation processes of NBS by means of a novel concept of Open-Air Laboratories (OAL) for its wider acceptance. The design and implementation of environmentally, economically, technically and socio-culturally sustainable NBS require inter- and transdisciplinary approaches which could be achieved by fostering co-creation processes by engaging stakeholders across various sectors and levels, inspiring more effective use of skills, diverse knowledge, manpower and resources, and connecting and harmonising the adaptation aims. The OAL serves as a benchmark for NBS upscaling, replication and exploitation in policy-making process through monitoring by field measurement, evaluation by key performance indicators and building solid evidence on their short- and long-term multiple benefits in different climatic, environmental and socioeconomic conditions, thereby alleviating the challenges of political resistance, financial barriers and lack of knowledge. We conclude that holistic management of HMHs by effective use of NBS can be achieved with standard-compliant data for replicating and monitoring NBS in OALs, knowledge about policy silos and interaction between research communities and end-users. Further research is needed for multi-risk analysis of HMHs and inclusion of NBS into policy frameworks, adaptable at local, regional and national scales leading to modification in the prevalent guidelines related to HMHs. The findings of this work can be used for developing synergies between current policy frameworks, scientific research and practical implementation of NBS in Europe and beyond for its wider acceptance.

Hydro-meteorological risk (HMR) management involves a range of methods, such as monitoring of uncertain climate, planning and prevention by technical countermeasures, risk assessment, preparedness for risk by early warnings, spreading knowledge and awareness, response and recovery. To execute HMR management by risk assessment, many models and tools, ranging from conceptual to sophisticated/numerical methods are currently in use. However, there is still a gap in systematically classifying and documenting them in the field of disaster risk management. This paper discusses various methods used for HMR assessment and its management via potential nature-based solutions (NBS), which are actually lessons learnt from nature. We focused on three hydrometeorological hazards (HMHs), floods, droughts and heatwaves, and their management by relevant NBS. Different methodologies related to the chosen HMHs are considered with respect to exposure, vulnerability and adaptation interaction of the elements at risk. Two widely used methods for flood risk assessment are fuzzy logic (e.g. fuzzy analytic hierarchy process) and probabilistic methodology (e.g. univariate and multivariate probability distributions). Different kinds of indices have been described in the literature to define drought risk, depending upon the type of drought and the purpose of evaluation. For heatwave risk estimation, mapping of the vulnerable property and population-based on geographical information system is a widely used methodology in addition to a number of computational, mathematical and statistical methods, such as principal component analysis, extreme value theorem, functional data analysis, the Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process and meta-analysis. NBS (blue, green and hybrid infrastructures) are promoted for HMR management. For example, marshes and wetlands in place of dams for flood and drought risk reduction, and green infrastructure for urban cooling and combating heatwaves, are potential NBS. More research is needed into risk assessment and management through NBS, to enhance its wider significance for sustainable living, building adaptations and resilience.

Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) refer to the sustainable management, protection and use of nature to preserve the ecosystem and prevent the loss of biodiversity. Given the multiple environmental, social, and economic benefits they provide to society, NBS have been increasingly promoted and implemented in cities, especially for air pollution mitigation and the improving of human thermal comfort and well-being. Several databases and web platforms already exist, which document these beneficial impacts of NBS in our cities by collecting and exposing existing NBS case studies and projects from around globe. However, the effort of cataloging and storing NBS data according to common and harmonized principles and standards seems yet sporadic and uncoordinated at the global and European level, especially in the context of natural hazard-related disasters. Nature-based solutions have been indeed recently emerged as viable and effective measures to mitigate the impacts of hydro-meteorological phenomena such as floods, landslide, etc. in both urban and rural environments, an aspect not often emphasized in the existing databases.Driven by the ambition of overcoming these two main gaps, an innovative geo-catalogue of existing NBS has been developed within the framework of GeoIKP, the NBS web-platform newly created by the EU H2020 project OPERANDUM.The geo-catalogue represents a comprehensive, geo-referenced, database of NBS case studies which are specifically designed to mitigate the risk and impacts of hydro-meteorological hazards, under a variety of environmental setting and hazard categories. It therefore represents a novel and open-access data source to learn about, and explore, the usability of NBS in fulfilling climate mitigation and adaptation objectives over a wide range of hydro-meteorological hazards.Case studies collected from various resources (NBS platforms, scientific literature, technical reports, OPERANDUM living labs, etc.) are revised, classified and harmonized according to internationally recognized standard and classification schemes (e.g., INSPIRE legislation, MAES classification, etc.) which allow to characterize each NBS through a comprehensive set of parameters, including the type of hazard and ecosystem, the societal challenges and driving policies linked to it, the type of intervention and its spatial coverage, among many others.The highly structured and comprehensive data model adopted here enables to query the database and/or filter the results based on a multitude of individual parameters which encompass all different dimensions of NBS (e.g. geophysical, societal, environmental, etc.). This not only allows for a straightforward and automatic association to one or more thematic aspects of NBS, but also enhances standardization, discoverability and interoperability of NBS data.

As part of H2020 OPERANDUM project, a multi-dimensional, open and user-friendly platform is being developed, named OPERANDUM Geospatial Information Knowledge Platform (GeoIKP), which enables stakeholders and end-users to improve their knowledge of nature-based solutions (NBS) as a long-term and sustainable measure for mitigation and reduction of flooding, coastal erosion, landslide and other hydro-meteorological hazards. This contribution offers an overview of GeoIKP and discusses in detail some of the innovative aspects of the platform, such as a the integration of a NBS data management portal with a web application offering advanced webGIS tools, a comprehensive catalogue of NBS, as well as analytical algorithms to demonstrate the effectiveness of NBS in reducing hydro-meteorological risks.The platform design is being based on intuitive techniques, ease of access, dynamic navigability, interactive knowledge management, and multiple format compatibility. It empowers the multiple and diverse actors involved in the NBS co-design/co-development process (policymakers, citizens, enterprises, scientists, etc.) to visualize and query geo-referenced data for the specific area of interest.In its first - yet preliminary - release, GeoIKP already offers a variety of functionalities and geo-referenced data of relevance for NBS, while at the same time it provides more standardized ways for NBS data (and metadata) management and cataloging. We conclude by reflecting on some of the current challenges associated with NBS data, such as adequacy and discoverability.

During the past decades, risk assessment experienced increasing interest in social science but also natural science and other disciplines. At the same time, risk reduction and mitigation gained in interest from local to global level due to the shift from reactive to proactive management. Hazard and risk assessment have been approached on different levels, nonetheless, they are lacking elements such as cross-border assessment or the integration of an ecological risk assessment. One of the objectives of the H2020 Operandum project is to provide an automated science-based assessment of risk for the social-ecological system and further of the applicability and performance of Nature-based Solutions (NBS) for risk mitigation of hydro-meteorological hazards.Within this project, an interactive webGIS analytical engine and an NBS catalogue are being developed as part of the Geospatial Information Knowledge Platform (GeoIKP). The analytical engine will encompass open Europe-wide hazard maps and link them with local high-resolution information from public and innovative data sources (e.g. Facebook). These two geo-tools are combined into a recommendation engine - NBS toolkit - trained on existing NBS. Using a holistic approach, the NBS toolkit aims at providing risk assessment and advanced recommendations on NBS usage for mitigation. For this approach, the NBS toolkit incorporates hazard and risk assessment in space and time, cost-benefit analysis, and additionally main drivers and constraints for NBS implementations as well as their geographical transferability, replicability and performance/effectiveness. This contribution will offer an insight into the concept and development of the NBS toolkit. Primarily, it will focus on the added value of the NBS toolkit for future nature-based implementation, risk mitigation management and decision-making at all levels. Challenges and current limitations of real-time risk assessment will also be discussed, with a focus on their implications on NBS monitoring and effectiveness.