Nature Positive: Cities’ Efforts to Advance the Transition – Barranquilla

This report is part of the World Economic Forum’s Nature Positive Transitions series, which highlights how cities and sectors worldwide are advancing the Global Biodiversity Framework and fostering a nature-positive future.

Located where the Magdalena River meets the Caribbean Sea, Barranquilla, one of Colombia’s fastest-growing cities, is redefining urban development through nature-based solutions. Once facing severe flooding, pollution and social inequality, the city is now investing over $380 million in green infrastructure, renewable energy and water management to restore ecosystems and improve quality of life.

Projects such as the Ciénaga de Mallorquín restoration and the creation of new public green spaces are reconnecting communities with nature and positioning Barranquilla as a regional leader in sustainable urban transformation.

This report explores the city’s journey towards a nature-positive, resilient and inclusive future, offering lessons for other cities seeking to align development with biodiversity protection and climate goals.