Sectoral Brief: Built Environment

As part of the EU-funded GoNaturePositive! project, five sectoral briefs were developed to explore how key economic sectors can contribute to a nature-positive economy. Covering agri-food systems, built environment, forestry, tourism, and the blue economy, these concise documents present the challenges, opportunities, and policy recommendations needed to transform these sectors – helping balance economic activity with ecosystem health and biodiversity conservation. The briefs are designed to guide upcoming project activities, including setting priorities, tackling policy barriers, and supporting targeted actions at project pilot sites.

This brief - focusing on the built environment - highlights a central role this sector plays in Europe’s economy, contributing 9% of EU GDP and providing 18 million direct jobs. Yet, urbanisation and construction sector are one of the key drivers of biodiversity loss, resource depletion, and pollution. Nature-based solutions such as green roofs, urban forests, wetlands, and permeable pavements, alongside energy-efficient design and the use of sustainable materials are supporting a shift towards nature-positive. Stronger regulatory frameworks, green public procurement, and targeted investments are needed with stronger enforcement of existing policies like the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive.