Drawing on a series of success stories, the conference was the opportunity to learn more about the potential of Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) to address some of the most pressing water challenges.

The conference was also the occasion to discuss the complex governance and potential financing approaches to implement NbS. Contributions from water operators, policymakers, experts and regulators helped to pinpoint the conditions for mainstreaming more integrated and eco-systemic approaches to water resources management: the integration of the multi-purpose nature of NbS in territorial planning, adequate economic incentives, and a conducive governance framework facilitating stakeholders’ coordination were identified as key.

As APE we presented our vision on the evolution of the mission of “water operators from service provider to resource management”, and discussed this in the light of some best practices, including from several APE members (like MM, Viacqua, CAP Holding, Brianzacque)