CamCOP: Rooted — Nature-Based Climate Solutions Summit
On March 14, 2026, Chris Toavs, a first year PhD student in the Resource Efficiency Collective, spoke on a panel discussion for nature-based solutions at Rooted–a climate solutions summit held by CamCOP. Chris sat on the Infrastructure & Engineered Systems panel exploring what nature-based climate solutions are available for engineered systems and the built environment. Although it is important to think about nature-based solutions in ecological settings, this panel explored the flip-side of the same issue: how to develop and produce nature-based climate solutions in the built environment.
Alongside three other panelists (Alex Laval, Laura Wendling, and Joshua Nicholas), Chris spoke about her research at the intersection of health and sustainable engineering design. The panel addressed questions such as:
- What, in your view, are the crucial main environmental problems with engineered or built systems, and how did they emerge?
- To what extent are they connected to climate change?
- What are the dominant approaches within engineering, energy science, or urban science to address these problems?
- What changes (academic, political, social, etc.) do you think are required to reach the best possible position in this regard?
The summit was a great opportunity to share research insights and progress as well as hear from the other panelists with expertise in various fields in engineering. Thanks to the Cambridge Climate Society for a great event! You can watch the session via this link: https://www.youtube.com/@cambridgeclimatesociety
