Cameron Price
Cameron Price is a sustainability educator and consultant specialising in Nature-based Solutions (NbS), NatureTech, biodiversity and ecological restoration. He founded EcoLaunch, a 35-week accelerator that develops start-ups working on NatureTech and NbS, with 27 masterclasses per cohort. Cameron advises organisations on sustainable operations, mentors entrepreneurs globally, and trains students in sustainable practices. With over a decade of experience in entrepreneurship, innovation and business development, he champions the integration of emerging technologies such as machine learning and AI to address environmental and social challenges.
Favorite Quote
When Nature speaks through code, the city heals.
Book/Author suggestion
I suggest Nature-Based Solutions for Urban Renewal in Post-Industrial Cities, edited by Silvia Barbero and Axel Timpe. Based on the Horizon 2020 project proGIreg, this book offers in-depth case studies of Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) implemented in cities across Europe and Asia. It explores spatial analysis, co-design with communities, implementation challenges and opportunities, and provides lessons for social innovation, circular economy practices, biodiversity restoration, health improvements, and policy design. The examples of post-industrial redevelopment paired with governance frameworks make this book especially relevant to FABER 2025’s theme of Inclusive Smart Cities, because it shows practical pathways for integrating NatureTech and NbS in urban regeneration.
Abstract
NatureTech and AI for Inclusive Smart Cities: Integrating Nature-Based Solutions with Digital Innovation
Rapid urbanisation is accelerating environmental degradation and social inequity. At the same time, nearly all European cities are adopting Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) to mitigate climate change. These measures, including parks, urban forests, wetlands and green roofs, deliver biodiversity gains, recreation and mental-health benefits. However, decision-making often prioritises human convenience over ecological needs, leading to uneven benefit distribution.
This presentation explores how artificial intelligence (AI) and NatureTech can optimise NbS design to build inclusive smart cities. AI technologies such as machine learning, predictive analytics and computer vision can improve the planning, monitoring and adaptive management of NbS. These tools are often coupled with digital infrastructures such as the Internet of Things (IoT), remote sensing and big-data platforms, which provide the data needed for modelling and decision-making. Yet AI raises ethical questions around surveillance, algorithmic bias and energy consumption.
Drawing on literature and case studies, the talk proposes a framework that balances human-, ecological- and AI-centric perspectives. Examples include AI-enabled digital twins that visualise NbS scenarios, predictive models that identify optimal green-space locations, and remote sensing tools for biodiversity monitoring. Evidence from European cities shows that most local climate action plans include NbS, indicating strong policy momentum.
The presentation will also showcase experiences from EcoLaunch, a 35-week accelerator supporting start-ups in NatureTech and sustainability, and discuss investment strategies for scaling inclusive NbS. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how integrative approaches can help cities harness Nature and data to become more resilient, equitable and Nature-positive.