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Dr. Elena Lopez Gunn
ICATALIST, S.L., Calle Cifuentes, 5, 28021 Madrid, Spain

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0 Social Innovation
0 Water Security
0 water governance
0 Climate change adaptation and green infrastructure
0 Collaborative decision making

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Climate change adaptation and green infrastructure
Water Security

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Journal article
Published: 02 July 2021 in Sustainability
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Nature-based solutions (NBS) offer multiple solutions to urban challenges simultaneously, but realising funding for NBS remains a challenge. When the concept of NBS for societal challenges was first defined by the EC in 2017, financing was recognised as one of the major challenges to its mainstreaming. The complexity of NBS finance has its origin in the multiple benefits/stakeholders involved, which obscures the argument for both public and private sector investment. Since 2017, subsequent waves of EU research- and innovation-funded projects have substantially contributed to the knowledge base of funding and business models for NBS, particularly in the urban context. Collaborating and sharing knowledge through an EU Task Force, this first set of EU projects laid important knowledge foundations, reviewing existing literature, and compiling empirical evidence of different financing approaches and the business models that underpinned them. The second set of EU innovation actions advanced this knowledge base, developing and testing new implementation models, business model tools, and approaches. This paper presents the findings of these projects from a business model perspective to improve our understanding of the value propositions of NBS to support their mainstreaming.

ACS Style

Beatriz Mayor; Helen Toxopeus; Siobhan McQuaid; Edoardo Croci; Benedetta Lucchitta; Suhana Reddy; Aitziber Egusquiza; Monica Altamirano; Tamara Trumbic; Andreas Tuerk; Gemma García; Efrén Feliu; Cosima Malandrino; Joanne Schante; Anne Jensen; Elena López Gunn. State of the Art and Latest Advances in Exploring Business Models for Nature-Based Solutions. Sustainability 2021, 13, 7413 .

AMA Style

Beatriz Mayor, Helen Toxopeus, Siobhan McQuaid, Edoardo Croci, Benedetta Lucchitta, Suhana Reddy, Aitziber Egusquiza, Monica Altamirano, Tamara Trumbic, Andreas Tuerk, Gemma García, Efrén Feliu, Cosima Malandrino, Joanne Schante, Anne Jensen, Elena López Gunn. State of the Art and Latest Advances in Exploring Business Models for Nature-Based Solutions. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (13):7413.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Beatriz Mayor; Helen Toxopeus; Siobhan McQuaid; Edoardo Croci; Benedetta Lucchitta; Suhana Reddy; Aitziber Egusquiza; Monica Altamirano; Tamara Trumbic; Andreas Tuerk; Gemma García; Efrén Feliu; Cosima Malandrino; Joanne Schante; Anne Jensen; Elena López Gunn. 2021. "State of the Art and Latest Advances in Exploring Business Models for Nature-Based Solutions." Sustainability 13, no. 13: 7413.

Journal article
Published: 06 May 2021 in Sustainability
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This paper presents the concept of communities of innovation for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. The paper discusses the added value of these types of communities to help address uncertain futures from the impact of climate change, which are highly context dependent. The paper frames these communities of innovation as part of innovation ecosystems in order to reflect on their key elements and added value. We argue that climate change and disaster risk management responses need to meet the needs of those experiencing problems with those that can offer solutions in distinct localities, including those that could fund or finance potential innovative solutions. Developing communities of innovation with the specific task of anticipating and creating niche solutions has been gaining traction in the EU. Some developed under the H2020 BRIGAID project are analysed here for other emergent COIs, as future-oriented communities tasked with the challenge to reduce disaster risks and enhance the climate resilience in their own spaces. This paper reflects on the experience of participants in these communities and their reflections and experience on whether these offer a useful form of organisation to anticipate future challenges, create niche solutions, and bring innovations to the market. The paper concludes with how communities of innovation can contribute to niche design and narratives of change to help achieve social and environmental resilience to reframe and help transition and transform current systems into more resilient, future-oriented communities.

ACS Style

Elena López-Gunn; Julian Swinkels; Gerardo Anzaldúa; Manuel Bea; Maria Colaço; Māra Deksne; Nensi Lalaj; Hugh McDonald; Marta Rica. Communities of Innovation for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction: Niche Creation and Anticipation. Sustainability 2021, 13, 5180 .

AMA Style

Elena López-Gunn, Julian Swinkels, Gerardo Anzaldúa, Manuel Bea, Maria Colaço, Māra Deksne, Nensi Lalaj, Hugh McDonald, Marta Rica. Communities of Innovation for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction: Niche Creation and Anticipation. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (9):5180.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Elena López-Gunn; Julian Swinkels; Gerardo Anzaldúa; Manuel Bea; Maria Colaço; Māra Deksne; Nensi Lalaj; Hugh McDonald; Marta Rica. 2021. "Communities of Innovation for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction: Niche Creation and Anticipation." Sustainability 13, no. 9: 5180.

Journal article
Published: 20 April 2021 in Ecological Economics
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Nature based solutions are proposed as integrated solutions to transform the current water intensive economic model to a more balanced model, where water is considered as an eco-social asset. We analyse the logic of action and underpinning belief systems, values, and norms of these evolving economic (and underpinning value) systems, through a conceptual frame based on a three layered institutional framework, considering new institutional economics and old institutionalism. This is applied to the case study of an intensively used aquifer of Medina del Campo in Spain, in relation to drought and water scarcity. We examine how water scarcity and drought are framed, and the implicit underpinning economic development models and values that help to legitimise decisions. It offers an application of the potential for natural assurance schemes as a specific type of nature based solutions to create safe landscapes and help transform the system through deep territorial transformation, based on a wider and deeper range of eco-social values. Systems which are more adaptable under climate change. The analysis of the definition of the problem (through individual stakeholder interviews) and the co-design of preferred choices through a series of participatory workshops led to the consideration of a wider range of options by stakeholders. We conclude that in Medina del Campo, the de-construction of the values and beliefs underpinning the concept of water scarcity as a problem, helps to re-construct adaptation to water scarcity as an opportunity for a more diversified and resilient economic model for long-term development. This is reflected in the selection of hybrid nature-based strategies (as compared to sole grey infrastructure strategies) that incorporate a broader range of values shifting from the single prioritisation of provision services to understanding water as a eco-social asset, encompassing the full range of ecosystem services, thus opening the decision-making space for additional long term climate resilient development.

ACS Style

Elena López Gunn; Marta Rica; Pedro Zorrilla-Miras; Laura Vay; Beatriz Mayor; Alessandro Pagano; Monica Altamirano; Rafaelle Giordano. The natural assurance value of nature-based solutions: A layered institutional analysis of socio ecological systems for long term climate resilient transformation. Ecological Economics 2021, 186, 107053 .

AMA Style

Elena López Gunn, Marta Rica, Pedro Zorrilla-Miras, Laura Vay, Beatriz Mayor, Alessandro Pagano, Monica Altamirano, Rafaelle Giordano. The natural assurance value of nature-based solutions: A layered institutional analysis of socio ecological systems for long term climate resilient transformation. Ecological Economics. 2021; 186 ():107053.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Elena López Gunn; Marta Rica; Pedro Zorrilla-Miras; Laura Vay; Beatriz Mayor; Alessandro Pagano; Monica Altamirano; Rafaelle Giordano. 2021. "The natural assurance value of nature-based solutions: A layered institutional analysis of socio ecological systems for long term climate resilient transformation." Ecological Economics 186, no. : 107053.

Journal article
Published: 17 February 2021 in Water
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Groundwater stored in aquifers experiences a wide variety of natural, induced and/or anthropogenic disturbances. Among them, groundwater extraction is the main disturbance that affects most of the aquifers in the world. Aquifer’s resilience, understood as the potential of the aquifer to sustain disturbances on the long term and to guarantee essential qualities and functions, provides a key tool when assessing sustainable groundwater management alternatives. The aim of this work is to illustrate an aquifer resilience framework that can support groundwater sustainable management. A theoretical framework is based on the identification of the key variables that parameterize the quantitative and qualitative responses of the groundwater flow system to pumping. An example from the literature based in Denmark is provided as an illustration of the proposed framework. The results show that long-term high quality data are essential to make a step further in aquifers dynamic responses. The quantitative understanding of the aquifer’s behavior before, during and after groundwater extraction provides a valuable source of information in order to identify thresholds of change (tipping points, transitions or regime shifts) which could permit pro-active groundwater management decisions. Moreover, a deeper understanding on the aquifer’s dynamics provides useful information in order to avert threats that may put the sustainability of the system at risk.

ACS Style

África Hera-Portillo; Julio López-Gutiérrez; Beatriz Mayor; Elena López-Gunn; Hans Henriksen; Ryle Gejl; Pedro Zorrilla-Miras; Pedro Martínez-Santos. An Initial Framework for Understanding the Resilience of Aquifers to Groundwater Pumping. Water 2021, 13, 519 .

AMA Style

África Hera-Portillo, Julio López-Gutiérrez, Beatriz Mayor, Elena López-Gunn, Hans Henriksen, Ryle Gejl, Pedro Zorrilla-Miras, Pedro Martínez-Santos. An Initial Framework for Understanding the Resilience of Aquifers to Groundwater Pumping. Water. 2021; 13 (4):519.

Chicago/Turabian Style

África Hera-Portillo; Julio López-Gutiérrez; Beatriz Mayor; Elena López-Gunn; Hans Henriksen; Ryle Gejl; Pedro Zorrilla-Miras; Pedro Martínez-Santos. 2021. "An Initial Framework for Understanding the Resilience of Aquifers to Groundwater Pumping." Water 13, no. 4: 519.

Journal article
Published: 20 October 2020 in Global Environmental Change
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An effective placement of irrigation efficiency in water management will contribute towards meeting the pre-eminent global water challenges of our time such as addressing water scarcity, boosting crop water productivity and reconciling competing water needs between sectors. However, although irrigation efficiency may appear to be a simple measure of performance and imply dramatic positive benefits, it is not straightforward to understand, measure or apply. For example, hydrological understanding that irrigation losses recycle back to surface and groundwater in river basins attempts to account for scale, but this generalisation cannot be readily translated from one location to another or be considered neutral for farmers sharing local irrigation networks. Because irrigation efficiency (IE) motives, measures, effects and technologies play out at different scales for different people, organisations and purposes, and losses differ from place to place and over time, IE is a contested term, highly changeable and subjective. This makes generalisations for science, management and policy difficult. Accordingly, we propose new definitions for IE and irrigation hydrology and introduce a framework, termed an ‘irrigation efficiency matrix’, comprising five spatial scales and ten dimensions to understand and critique the promises, pitfalls and paradoxes of IE and to unlock its utility for addressing contemporary water challenges.

ACS Style

Bruce Lankford; Alvar Closas; James Dalton; Elena López Gunn; Tim Hess; Jerry W Knox; Saskia van der Kooij; Jonathan Lautze; David Molden; Stuart Orr; Jamie Pittock; Brian Richter; Philip J Riddell; Christopher A Scott; Jean-Philippe Venot; Jeroen Vos; Margreet Zwarteveen. A scale-based framework to understand the promises, pitfalls and paradoxes of irrigation efficiency to meet major water challenges. Global Environmental Change 2020, 65, 102182 .

AMA Style

Bruce Lankford, Alvar Closas, James Dalton, Elena López Gunn, Tim Hess, Jerry W Knox, Saskia van der Kooij, Jonathan Lautze, David Molden, Stuart Orr, Jamie Pittock, Brian Richter, Philip J Riddell, Christopher A Scott, Jean-Philippe Venot, Jeroen Vos, Margreet Zwarteveen. A scale-based framework to understand the promises, pitfalls and paradoxes of irrigation efficiency to meet major water challenges. Global Environmental Change. 2020; 65 ():102182.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Bruce Lankford; Alvar Closas; James Dalton; Elena López Gunn; Tim Hess; Jerry W Knox; Saskia van der Kooij; Jonathan Lautze; David Molden; Stuart Orr; Jamie Pittock; Brian Richter; Philip J Riddell; Christopher A Scott; Jean-Philippe Venot; Jeroen Vos; Margreet Zwarteveen. 2020. "A scale-based framework to understand the promises, pitfalls and paradoxes of irrigation efficiency to meet major water challenges." Global Environmental Change 65, no. : 102182.

Journal article
Published: 25 June 2020 in Water
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We have witnessed the great changes that hydrogeological systems are facing in the last decades: rivers that have dried up; wetlands that have disappeared, leaving their buckets converted into farmland; and aquifers that have been intensively exploited for years, among others. Humans have caused the most part of these results that can be worsened by climate change, with delayed effects on groundwater quantity and quality. The consequences are negatively impacting ecosystems and dependent societies. The concept of resilience has not been extensively used in the hydrogeological research, and it can be a very useful concept that can improve the understanding and management of these systems. The aim of this work is to briefly discuss the role of resilience in the context of freshwater systems affected by either climate or anthropic actions as a way to increase our understanding of how anticipating negative changes (transitions) may contribute to improving the management of the system and preserving the services that it provides. First, the article presents the basic concepts applied to hydrogeological systems from the ecosystem’s resilience approach. Second, the factors controlling for hydrogeological systems’ responses to different impacts are commented upon. Third, a case study is analyzed and discussed. Finally, the useful implications of the concept are discussed.

ACS Style

África De La Hera-Portillo; Julio López-Gutiérrez; Pedro Zorrilla-Miras; Beatriz Mayor; Elena López-Gunn. The Ecosystem Resilience Concept Applied to Hydrogeological Systems: A General Approach. Water 2020, 12, 1824 .

AMA Style

África De La Hera-Portillo, Julio López-Gutiérrez, Pedro Zorrilla-Miras, Beatriz Mayor, Elena López-Gunn. The Ecosystem Resilience Concept Applied to Hydrogeological Systems: A General Approach. Water. 2020; 12 (6):1824.

Chicago/Turabian Style

África De La Hera-Portillo; Julio López-Gutiérrez; Pedro Zorrilla-Miras; Beatriz Mayor; Elena López-Gunn. 2020. "The Ecosystem Resilience Concept Applied to Hydrogeological Systems: A General Approach." Water 12, no. 6: 1824.

News
Published: 12 March 2020 in Bulletin of Atmospheric Science and Technology
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ACS Style

Silvana Di Sabatino; Zoran Vojinovic; Amy Oen; Elena Lopez Gunn. Nature-based solutions for hydro-meteorological risk reduction. Bulletin of Atmospheric Science and Technology 2020, 1, 109 -111.

AMA Style

Silvana Di Sabatino, Zoran Vojinovic, Amy Oen, Elena Lopez Gunn. Nature-based solutions for hydro-meteorological risk reduction. Bulletin of Atmospheric Science and Technology. 2020; 1 (1):109-111.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Silvana Di Sabatino; Zoran Vojinovic; Amy Oen; Elena Lopez Gunn. 2020. "Nature-based solutions for hydro-meteorological risk reduction." Bulletin of Atmospheric Science and Technology 1, no. 1: 109-111.

Journal article
Published: 06 November 2019 in Sustainability
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Nature-based solutions (NBS) are increasingly being considered as an option to reduce societies’ vulnerability to natural hazards, creating co-benefits while protecting ecosystem services in a context of changing climate patterns with more frequent and extreme weather events. The reinsurance and insurance industries are increasingly cited as sectors that can play a role to help manage risks, by improving disaster risk reduction (DRR) and loss prevention. This paper investigates how the (re)insurance industry could support the transition from a paradigm focused on ex-post responses to ex-ante risk reduction measures including NBS, in line with the Sendai Framework. This paper presents the results of a series of 61 interviews undertaken with the (re)insurance sector and related actors under the EU H2020 Nature Insurance Value Assessment and Demonstration (NAIAD) project. Methods based on a Grounded Theory approach indicate how this sector can play different roles in loss prevention, including ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction (eco-DRR). Results illustrate how the (re)insurance industry, under these roles, is gradually innovating by having a better understanding of hazards and mitigation. The findings of the study contribute to wider discussions such as the possibility of new arrangements like natural insurance schemes and evidence-based assessment of avoided damage costs from green protective measures, in Europe and beyond.

ACS Style

Roxane Marchal; Guillaume Piton; Elena Lopez-Gunn; Pedro Zorrilla-Miras; Peter Van Der Keur; Kieran W. J. Dartée; Polona Pengal; John H. Matthews; Jean-Marc Tacnet; Nina Graveline; Monica A. Altamirano; John Joyce; Florentina Nanu; Ioana Groza; Karina Peña; Blaz Cokan; Sophia Burke; David Moncoulon. The (Re)Insurance Industry’s Roles in the Integration of Nature-based Solutions for Prevention in Disaster Risk Reduction—Insights from a European Survey. Sustainability 2019, 11, 6212 .

AMA Style

Roxane Marchal, Guillaume Piton, Elena Lopez-Gunn, Pedro Zorrilla-Miras, Peter Van Der Keur, Kieran W. J. Dartée, Polona Pengal, John H. Matthews, Jean-Marc Tacnet, Nina Graveline, Monica A. Altamirano, John Joyce, Florentina Nanu, Ioana Groza, Karina Peña, Blaz Cokan, Sophia Burke, David Moncoulon. The (Re)Insurance Industry’s Roles in the Integration of Nature-based Solutions for Prevention in Disaster Risk Reduction—Insights from a European Survey. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (22):6212.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Roxane Marchal; Guillaume Piton; Elena Lopez-Gunn; Pedro Zorrilla-Miras; Peter Van Der Keur; Kieran W. J. Dartée; Polona Pengal; John H. Matthews; Jean-Marc Tacnet; Nina Graveline; Monica A. Altamirano; John Joyce; Florentina Nanu; Ioana Groza; Karina Peña; Blaz Cokan; Sophia Burke; David Moncoulon. 2019. "The (Re)Insurance Industry’s Roles in the Integration of Nature-based Solutions for Prevention in Disaster Risk Reduction—Insights from a European Survey." Sustainability 11, no. 22: 6212.

Journal article
Published: 01 November 2017 in Environmental Research
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This paper proposes a conceptual framework to systematize the use of Nature-based solutions (NBS) by integrating their resilience potential into Natural Assurance Scheme (NAS), focusing on insurance value as corner stone for both awareness-raising and valuation. As such one of its core goal is to align research and pilot projects with infrastructure development constraints and priorities. Under NAS, the integrated contribution of natural infrastructure to Disaster Risk Reduction is valued in the context of an identified growing need for climate robust infrastructure. The potential of NAS benefits and trade-off are explored by through the alternative lens of Disaster Resilience Enhancement (DRE). Such a system requires a joint effort of specific knowledge transfer from research groups and stakeholders to potential future NAS developers and investors. We therefore match the knowledge gaps with operational stages of the development of NAS from a project designer perspective. We start by highlighting the key role of the insurance industry in incentivizing and assessing disaster and slow onset resilience enhancement strategies. In parallel we place the public sector as potential kick-starters in DRE initiatives through the existing initiatives and constraints of infrastructure procurement. Under this perspective the paper explores the required alignment of Integrated Water resources planning and Public investment systems. Ultimately this will provide the possibility for both planners and investors to design no regret NBS and mixed Grey-Green infrastructures systems. As resources and constraints are widely different between infrastructure development contexts, the framework does not provide explicit methodological choices but presents current limits of knowledge and know-how. In conclusion the paper underlines the potential of NAS to ease the infrastructure gap in water globally by stressing the advantages of investment in the protection, enhancement and restoration of natural capital as an effective climate change adaptation investment.

ACS Style

Benjamin Denjean; Mónica A. Altamirano; Nina Graveline; Raffaele Giordano; Peter van der Keur; David Moncoulon; Josh Weinberg; María Máñez Costa; Zdravko Kozinc; Mark Mulligan; Polona Pengal; John Matthews; Nora van Cauwenbergh; Elena López Gunn; David N. Bresch. Natural Assurance Scheme: A level playing field framework for Green-Grey infrastructure development. Environmental Research 2017, 159, 24 -38.

AMA Style

Benjamin Denjean, Mónica A. Altamirano, Nina Graveline, Raffaele Giordano, Peter van der Keur, David Moncoulon, Josh Weinberg, María Máñez Costa, Zdravko Kozinc, Mark Mulligan, Polona Pengal, John Matthews, Nora van Cauwenbergh, Elena López Gunn, David N. Bresch. Natural Assurance Scheme: A level playing field framework for Green-Grey infrastructure development. Environmental Research. 2017; 159 ():24-38.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Benjamin Denjean; Mónica A. Altamirano; Nina Graveline; Raffaele Giordano; Peter van der Keur; David Moncoulon; Josh Weinberg; María Máñez Costa; Zdravko Kozinc; Mark Mulligan; Polona Pengal; John Matthews; Nora van Cauwenbergh; Elena López Gunn; David N. Bresch. 2017. "Natural Assurance Scheme: A level playing field framework for Green-Grey infrastructure development." Environmental Research 159, no. : 24-38.

Journal article
Published: 06 October 2017 in Sustainability
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Hydropower has been increasingly seen as a two-fold solution to the provision of renewable energy and water storage. However, the massive deployment of both large and small scale hydropower projects has been reported to cause important environmental impacts at the basin scale. This study assesses the differential contributions to regional energy and water security of large (LHP) and small (SHP) scale hydropower deployment in the Spanish Duero basin, as well as associated cumulative environmental impacts. This is performed through a selection of indicators measured in absolute and relative terms. The results suggest that LHP deployment contributes more to energy and water security, performing better in 10 of the 12 indicators. It also shows higher absolute environmental impacts on flow regime and habitat loss. Meanwhile, when analyzed in relative terms, SHP shows greater impacts in all categories as a result of cumulative effects cascading along the rivers system. These findings suggest that optimizing the use of existing hydropower infrastructure would be beneficial for energy, water and environmental security. This could be implemented by substantially reducing the number of low capacity plants with almost no impact on final energy generation, while enhancing the pumping and storage potential of higher capacity plants.

ACS Style

Beatriz Mayor; Ignacio Rodríguez-Muñoz; Fermín Villarroya; Esperanza Montero; Elena López-Gunn. The Role of Large and Small Scale Hydropower for Energy and Water Security in the Spanish Duero Basin. Sustainability 2017, 9, 1807 .

AMA Style

Beatriz Mayor, Ignacio Rodríguez-Muñoz, Fermín Villarroya, Esperanza Montero, Elena López-Gunn. The Role of Large and Small Scale Hydropower for Energy and Water Security in the Spanish Duero Basin. Sustainability. 2017; 9 (10):1807.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Beatriz Mayor; Ignacio Rodríguez-Muñoz; Fermín Villarroya; Esperanza Montero; Elena López-Gunn. 2017. "The Role of Large and Small Scale Hydropower for Energy and Water Security in the Spanish Duero Basin." Sustainability 9, no. 10: 1807.