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EPA 2016 H2020 Oct 7th 2016

“Biodiversity & Nature Based Solutions”

Liam McCarton, Dr. Sean O’Hogain,DTC Research Group,

Dublin Institute of Technology www.dit.ie/dtc

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NATURE BASED SOLUTIONS

• Nature based solutions are both natural and constructed systems, which utilise physical, chemical and microbiological treatment processes.

ECOSYSTEM SERVICESAdded Value

Ecosystem services are the benefits that humans receive from nature. • Within nature based solutions these benefits include

• Climate change adaption, • Water / wastewater treatment, • Resource recovery & reuse and • Restoration of degraded ecosystems.

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Water in a Circular Economy Research & Innovation Needs Horizon 2020 WP 2018-2020

Technology

Finance

Policy Training

Resource Recovery

Restorative of Ecosystems

Resilient

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Technology Portfolio

Technology

Market

Finance

Policy

Training

DTC

53 mei 2023

Demonstration Sites – Learn by Doing

Source: Kwint van den Berg, www.bergrecordings.com

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Economic Feasibility

Reused Water Cost > Mains Water

Resource Recovery &

Reuse

Financing Reuse Projects• Need to develop new

business models, Need to Cost added value (for. Ex ecosystem services)

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Policy Political: legislation / policy and management

• Current Legislation based on “Pollution Prevention”

• Circular Economy (Reuse, Recovery, Recycle) Requires legislation based on “Fit for Purpose”

Resource Recovery

Circular Economy

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NBS Constraints & Barriers

DTC

• Lack of Demonstration Sites in Ireland – “Learn by Doing”

• Finance • Current Legislation• NBS are site specific

solutions – replicability ? • Training, Education, Skills

Technology

Market

Finance

Policy

Training