GoNaturePositive!: Roadmaps for Green Buildings chart pathways towards a Nature-Positive Economy in Europe and Portugal

The integration of nature into buildings and cities is at the heart of a necessary transformation of the construction sector. Within the framework of the European GoNaturePositive! project, Roadmaps have been developed to support this transition by identifying current challenges and defining pathways for action that can contribute to a Nature-Positive Economy. (https://gonaturepositive.eu/resources/)

Coordinated by Trinity College Dublin and developed by an international consortium of partners, GoNaturePositive! aims to accelerate the transition towards economic models that restore and regenerate nature rather than merely reducing negative environmental impacts. The Portuguese National Association of Green Roofs (ANCV) is involved in the Green Buildings pilot, working in collaboration with the European Federation of Green Roof and Living Wall Associations (EFB) and other project partners. (https://efb-greenroof.eu/)

Within the Green Buildings sector, the work focuses on strengthening the integration of green roofs, green walls and other Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) into the built environment, recognising buildings as elements capable of actively contributing to biodiversity, climate adaptation, sustainable water management, resource efficiency and community well-being. Portugal is one of the countries contributing to this process through the development of a specific national Roadmap.

A European vision for Nature-Positive Green Buildings

At European level, the Nature-Positive Green Buildings – Roadmap for Europe sets out a vision for 2050 in which cities and buildings function as living, regenerative, circular and inclusive ecosystems, where nature is no longer considered an additional or optional feature but becomes embedded in decisions concerning urban planning, construction, financing, regulation and innovation.

The European Roadmap highlights the need to overcome fragmented policies and standards, financing barriers, knowledge gaps and shortages in professional skills. It points towards greater harmonisation of European standards, stronger environmental performance metrics, new financing mechanisms, circular and bio-based materials, professional training and greater social engagement. Overall, the Roadmap establishes a pathway for Nature-Based Solutions to become a standard component of Europe’s urban and building infrastructure, rather than remaining isolated or complementary interventions.

The European Roadmap and the national Roadmaps are consolidated in the Pilot Roadmaps – Green Buildings document developed within the GoNaturePositive! project.

Consult the full document:
GoNaturePositive! – Pilot Roadmaps: Green Buildings

Portugal: more than 600 contributions towards a shared national vision

In Portugal, ANCV developed a participatory process to adapt the European vision to the specific realities, challenges and opportunities of the national context. The Portugal Roadmap for Green Buildings resulted from two face-to-face workshops held in Lisbon and Porto, involving 63 participants and gathering more than 600 contributions from professionals, researchers, municipal technicians, companies, students and specialists from different areas related to the built environment, architecture, engineering, sustainability, water management and Nature-Based Solutions.

The first session was held on 27 November at Instituto Superior Técnico, in Lisbon, while the second took place on 5 December at CIIMAR – Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, in Porto. During the practical sessions, participants worked collaboratively to define a common vision for 2050, identify the main challenges currently affecting the sector and propose concrete measures for the short, medium and long term. (https://tecnico.ulisboa.pt/pt/ | https://www.ciimar.up.pt/pt-pt/)

The contributions collected throughout this process enabled the Roadmap to be structured around five strategic areas: Policy, Finance, Business, Technology and Social Change. Together, these areas reflect the multiple conditions required for Nature-Based Solutions to become a structural component of construction and urban regeneration in Portugal.

Main challenges identified in Portugal

The participatory process showed that the wider implementation of Nature-Based Solutions in Portugal continues to be limited by several interconnected challenges. These include the still limited integration of NBS into public policies and municipal regulations, insufficient dedicated financial instruments, the need for greater innovation and solutions adapted to the Portuguese context, a shortage of specialised professionals and relatively low levels of environmental literacy and societal engagement.

In the field of Policy, the Roadmap emphasises the need to progressively integrate green roofs, green walls and other Nature-Based Solutions into national and municipal planning and regulatory frameworks. Priorities include incorporating NBS into government strategies, Municipal Master Plans and municipal regulations, as well as strengthening their role within climate adaptation, water, energy and urban development policies. The Roadmap also identifies mandatory requirements for public buildings, clearer national standards and mechanisms for ensuring quality and regulatory consistency as important steps towards mainstream adoption.

Regarding Finance, the Roadmap highlights the importance of reducing the economic barriers associated with the implementation and maintenance of Nature-Based Solutions. Proposed measures include the development of dedicated green financial instruments, fiscal incentives such as Green Municipal Property Tax incentives and reduced VAT, and the integration of NBS performance indicators into banking, investment and credit assessment systems. Performance-based financing mechanisms could also recognise benefits such as stormwater retention, carbon reduction, biodiversity enhancement and other ecosystem services.

Within the Business dimension, the Portuguese Roadmap identifies a market that is still developing, with a limited number of specialised companies, relatively high costs and a shortage of qualified professionals. The proposed pathway involves strengthening companies and services associated with Nature-Based Solutions, adapting business models to European frameworks and increasing the integration of green solutions into construction and urban regeneration projects. The long-term vision is for a competitive and well-structured national market supported by specialised companies, qualified professionals and widespread adoption of NBS.

Technology represents another fundamental area of action. The Roadmap highlights the certification and development of natural and bio-based construction materials, including the valorisation of Portuguese resources such as cork, as well as the wider adoption of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and the Digital Product Passport. Environmental monitoring systems and sensors are also identified as important tools for evaluating the performance of green infrastructure. By 2030, the Roadmap envisages the standard integration of green roofs with photovoltaic systems, together with environmental monitoring connected to municipal management systems. In the longer term, artificial intelligence and robotics could also support the preliminary simulation, planning and management of green infrastructure.

Finally, the Social Change dimension demonstrates that the transformation of the sector cannot occur without stronger links between society and nature. Priorities include incorporating Nature-Based Solutions into school curricula, developing specialised technical training, increasing environmental literacy and implementing community engagement programmes. The 2050 vision includes shared urban rooftop food production, ecological corridors connecting buildings and recognition of new professional competencies associated with the sector, including the professional category of “greenroofer”.

A vision for Portugal in 2050

The collective vision developed through the Roadmap foresees that, by 2050, cities and buildings in Portugal will function as regenerative and resilient systems, where green roofs and green walls are recognised as standard urban infrastructure. The built environment is expected to actively contribute to biodiversity, climate adaptation and social well-being, supported by a strong national market, skilled professionals and integrated public policies aligned with a Nature-Positive Economy.

This vision also represents a fundamental change in how vegetation is perceived within the construction sector. Rather than being regarded as merely decorative or complementary, vegetation should be recognised as an essential building component, capable of providing technical, environmental, social and economic functions.

The results also demonstrate strong alignment between the priorities identified in Portugal and those established at European level. While many of the challenges are shared across countries, the Portuguese Roadmap translates these broader priorities into actions adapted to the national context, including the integration of NBS into national and municipal policy frameworks, specific fiscal incentives, greater use of Portuguese bio-based materials and the development of new professional competencies.

The Portugal Roadmap should therefore be understood not as an endpoint, but as a strategic tool for action, supporting municipalities, policymakers, companies, professionals, educational and research institutions, financial organisations and civil society in accelerating the transition towards a more resilient, competitive and nature-positive Green Buildings sector.

We invite everyone interested in this transition to explore the project’s research, publications, tools and results and to learn more about the work being carried out across Europe: https://gonaturepositive.eu/resources/

Acknowledgements

ANCV would like to thank all participants who contributed to this process. Their knowledge, experience, ideas and different perspectives were fundamental to building a shared vision for the future of Green Buildings in Portugal. Special thanks are also extended to Instituto Superior Técnico, in Lisbon, and CIIMAR – Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, in Porto, for their collaboration and support in hosting the national sessions. The involvement of municipalities, companies, professionals, academia, research institutions, students, specialists and civil society was essential to the development of the Roadmap and reinforces one of the central conclusions of the process: the transition towards a Nature-Positive Economy requires coordinated and collaborative action across all sectors of society.