Nature-Based Solutions in Urban Areas: A European Analysis
Source abstract
Abstract
Currently, the world is facing resource scarcity as the environmental impacts of human intervention continue to intensify. To facilitate the conservation and recovery of ecosystems and to transform cities into more sustainable, intelligent, regenerative, and resilient environments, the concepts of circularity and nature-based solutions (NbS) are applied. The role of NbS within green infrastructure in urban resilience is recognised, and considerable efforts are being made by the European Commission (EC) to achieve the European sustainability goals. However, it is not fully evidenced, in an integrated way, which are the main NbS implemented in the urban environment and their effects. This article aims to identify the main and most recent NbS applied in urban environments at the European level and to analyse the integration of different measures as an innovative analysis based on real cases. For this purpose, this work presents a literature review of 69 projects implemented in 24 European cities, as well as 8 urban actions and 3 spatial scales of implementation at the district level. Therefore, there is great potential for NbS adoption in buildings and their surroundings, which are still not prioritized, given the lack of effective monitoring of the effects of NbS.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Land Use and Ecosystem Services · Urban Green Space and Health · Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
RISCO—Research Center for Risks and Sustainability in Construction, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
ANQIP—National Association for Quality in Buildings Services, Civil Engineering Department, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
INESC Coimbra and SMAS de Leiria, Department of Civil Engineering, Polytechnic of Leiria, Campus 2 Morro do Lena—Alto do Vieiro, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal
Funding
Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)—Aveiro Research Centre for Risks and Sustainability in Construction (RISCO), Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal · Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) · MIT Portugal Program · Portuguese Government
References (100+)
Show source-provided references
1. IPCC (2018). Global Warming of 1.5 °C. An IPCC Special Report on the Impacts of Global Warming of 1.5 °C above Pre-Industrial Levels and Related Global Greenhouse Gas Emission Pathways, in the Context of Strengthening the Global Response to the Threat of Climate Change, Sustainable Development, and Efforts to Eradicate Poverty, Cambridge University Press.
2. United Nations (2022, October 12). The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2022. Available online: https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2022/.
3. Williams, J. (2019). Circular Cities: Challenges to Implementing Looping Actions. Sustainability, 11.10.3390/su11020423 ↗
4. UNEP—UN Environment Programme (2022, October 12). Global Forum on Cities Highlights Need for Sustainable Development. Available online: https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/global-forum-cities-highlights-need-sustainable-development.
5. Implementing nature-based solutions for creating a resourceful circular city10.2166/bgs.2020.933 ↗
6. United Nations (2022, October 13). Goal 11: Make Cities Inclusive, Safe, Resilient and Sustainable. Available online: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/cities/.
7. IUCN (2020). Global Standard for Nature-Based Solutions: A User-Friendly Framework for the Verification, Design and Scaling Up of NbS, IUCN. [1st ed.].
8. UN-Habitat—United Nations Human Settlements Programme (2022, October 13). World Cities Report 2022: Envisaging the Future of Cities. Available online: https://unhabitat.org/wcr/.
9. Nature-Based Solutions in Cities—Contribution of the Portuguese National Association of Green Roofs to Urban Circularity10.1007/s43615-021-00070-9 ↗
10. Enhancing the circular economy with nature-based solutions in the built urban environment: Green building materials, systems and sites10.2166/bgs.2019.928 ↗
11. Bardin, L. (2009). Análise de Conteúdo, Almedian. [70th ed.]. Edicao Revista Actualizada.
12. Nature-based solutions to climate change mitigation and adaptation in urban areas: Perspectives on indicators, knowledge gaps, barriers, and opportunities for action10.5751/ES-08373-210239 ↗
13. What are Nature-based solutions (NBS)? Setting core ideas for concept clarification10.1016/j.nbsj.2022.100009 ↗
14. The science, policy and practice of nature-based solutions: An interdisciplinary perspective10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.11.106 ↗
15. Addressing societal challenges through nature-based solutions: How can landscape planning and governance research contribute?10.1016/j.landurbplan.2018.10.003 ↗
16. From classical water-ecosystem theories to nature-based solutions—Contextualizing nature-based solutions for sustainable city10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.187 ↗
17. Sarabi, S.E., Han, Q., Romme, A., de Vries, B., and Wendling, L. (2019). Key Enablers of and Barriers to the Uptake and Implementation of Nature-Based Solutions in Urban Settings: A Review. Resources, 8.10.3390/resources8030121 ↗
18. Building climate resilience through nature-based solutions in Europe: A review of enabling knowledge, finance and governance frameworks10.1016/j.crm.2022.100450 ↗
19. Priority knowledge needs for implementing nature-based solutions in the Mediterranean islands10.1016/j.envsci.2020.10.003 ↗
20. Uptake and implementation of Nature-Based Solutions: An analysis of barriers using Interpretive Structural Modeling10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110749 ↗
21. Science for Environment Policy (2021). Future Brief: The Solution Is in Nature, EU Publications Office. Issue 24.
22. European Parliament (2022, October 12). Circular Economy: Definition, Importance and Benefits|News|European Parliament. Available online: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/economy/20151201STO05603/circular-economy-definition-importance-and-benefits.
23. European Commission (2022, October 12). COM 2020—Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions—A New Circular Economy Action Plan—For a cleaner and More Competitive Europe. Available online: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1583933814386&uri=COM:2020:98:FIN.
24. Giorgos, S., Stavros, S., Nektarios, C., and Horizon, T.N. (2022, November 02). 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement No. 730338. Available online: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339983272_ThinkNature_Nature-Based_Solutions_Handbook.
25. European Commission (2021). Evaluating the Impact of Nature-Based Solutions: A Handbook for Practitioners, Publications Office of the European Union.
26. How are nature based solutions contributing to priority societal challenges surrounding human well-being in the United Kingdom: A systematic map protocol10.1186/s13750-019-0180-4 ↗
27. Urban forests, ecosystem services, green infrastructure and nature-based solutions: Nexus or evolving metaphors?10.1016/j.ufug.2018.02.011 ↗
28. European Environment Agency (2021). Nature-Based Solutions in Europe: Policy, Knowledge and Practice for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction, EU Publication Office.
29. European Commission, and Directorate-General for Research, and Innovation (2015). Towards an EU Research and Innovation Policy Agenda for Nature-Based Solutions & Re-Naturing Cities—Final report of the Horizon 2020, EU Publications Office. full version.
30. Mapping the effectiveness of nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation10.1111/gcb.15310 ↗
31. Green spaces are not all the same for the provision of air purification and climate regulation services: The case of urban parks10.1016/j.envres.2017.10.006 ↗
32. Integrating nature-based solutions in flood risk management plans: A matter of individual beliefs?10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148896 ↗
33. Ecosystem-based solutions for disaster risk reduction: Lessons from European applications of ecosystem-based adaptation measures10.1016/j.ijdrr.2017.12.014 ↗
34. Ihobe Environmental Management Agency, and Ministry of the Environment Territorial Planning and Housing—Basque Government (2017). Nature-Based Solutions for Local Climate Adaptation in the Basque Country, Ihobe. Methodological Guide for Their Identification and Mapping, Donostia/San Sebastián Case Study.
35. The European Union roadmap for implementing nature-based solutions: A review10.1016/j.envsci.2021.03.018 ↗
36. European Commission, and Directorate—General for Research and Innovation (2020). Nature-Based Solutions: State of the Art in EU-Funded Projects, EU Publications Office.
37. European Commission (2022, November 03). Horizon Europe. Available online: https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe_en.
38. European Commission, and Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (2018). A New Horizon for Europe: Impact Assessment of the 9th EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, EU Publications Office.
39. Ashley, R.M., Horton, B., Walker, L., Digman, C., Shaffer, P., and van Herk, S. (Proc. Inst. Civ. Eng. Eng. Sustain., 2022). The benefits of Nature Based Systems in a changing and uncertain world, Proc. Inst. Civ. Eng. Eng. Sustain., ahead of print.
40. Nature-based restorative environments are needed now more than ever10.1080/23748834.2020.1796401 ↗
41. Biodiversity: The Nature-Based Solution for Pandemics and Human Well-being10.5958/2320-642X.2020.00010.1 ↗
42. United Nations Environment Programme (2021). 2021 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction: Towards a Zero-Emission, Efficient and Resilient Buildings and Construction Sector, UNEP.
43. United Nations Environment Programme (2020). 2020 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction: Towards a Zero-Emission, Efficient and Resilient Buildings and Construction Sector, UNEP.
44. Nature-Based Solutions and Circularity in Cities10.1007/s43615-021-00024-1 ↗
45. Anderson, V., and Gough, W.A. (2022). Enabling Nature-Based Solutions to Build Back Better—An Environmental Regulatory Impact Analysis of Green Infrastructure in Ontario, Canada. Buildings, 12.10.3390/buildings12010061 ↗
46. Herzog, C.P., and Rozado, C.A. (2019). The EU-Brazil Sector Dialogue on Nature-Based Solutions: Contribution to a Brazilian Roadmap on Nature-Based Solutions for Resilient Cities, EU Publication Office.
47. Nature4Cities (2022, October 19). Nature Based Solutions. Available online: https://www.nature4cities.eu/nature-based-solutions.
48. proGIreg (2022, October 20). Nature-Based Solutions. Available online: https://progireg.eu/.
49. NAVIGATOR (2022, October 25). Urban Nature Navigator Discovering the Potential of Nature-Based Solutions. Available online: https://naturvation.eu/sites/default/files/result/files/briefing_note_unn_purpose_and_potential.
50. European Commission, and Directorate—General for Research and Innovation (2020). Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and Their Services: An EU Wide Ecosystem Assessment in Support of the EU Biodiversity Strategy, EU Publications Office. Supplement (indicator fact sheets).
51. CICES—European Environment Agency (EEA) (2022, November 05). Towards a Common Classification of Ecosystem Services. Available online: https://cices.eu/resources/.
52. Raymond, C., Berry, P.M., Breil, M., and Nita, M.R. (2017). An Impact Evaluation Framework to Support Planning and Evaluation of Nature-Based Solutions Projects, Centre of Ecology and Hydrology.
53. (2022, October 05). Case Studies|Oppla. Available online: https://oppla.eu/case-study-finder.
54. Whose knowledge counts in nature-based solutions? Understanding epistemic justice for nature-based solutions through a multi-city comparison across Europe and Asia10.1016/j.envsci.2022.07.025 ↗
55. Nature Based Solutions for Urban Resilience: A Distinction Between No-Tech, Low-Tech and High-Tech Solutions10.3389/fenvs.2020.599060 ↗
56. Nature-based solutions addressing the water-energy-food nexus: Review of theoretical concepts and urban case studies10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.130652 ↗
57. Pearlmutter, D., Pucher, B., Calheiros, C.S.C., Hoffmann, K.A., Aicher, A., Pinho, P., Stracqualursi, A., Korolova, A., Pobric, A., and Galvão, A. (2021). Closing water cycles in the built environment through nature-based solutions: The contribution of vertical greening systems and green roofs. Water, 13.10.3390/w13162165 ↗
58. Discovering the environmental potential of multi-family residential areas for nature-based solutions. A Central European cities perspective10.1016/j.landurbplan.2020.103975 ↗
59. Simperler, L., Ertl, T., and Matzinger, A. (2020). Spatial Compatibility of Implementing Nature-Based Solutions for Reducing Urban Heat Islands and Stormwater Pollution. Sustainability, 12.10.3390/su12155967 ↗
60. Basu, A.S., Pilla, F., Sannigrahi, S., Gengembre, R., Guilland, A., and Basu, B. (2021). Theoretical Framework to Assess Green Roof Performance in Mitigating Urban Flooding as a Potential Nature-Based Solution. Sustainability, 13.10.3390/su132313231 ↗
61. The case for mainstreaming nature-based solutions into integrated catchment management in Ireland10.1353/bae.2020.0014 ↗
62. (2022, October 05). Case Studies|proGIreg. Available online: https://progireg.eu/.
63. Examining the policy needs for implementing nature-based solutions in cities: Findings from city-wide transdisciplinary experiences in Glasgow (UK), Genk (Belgium) and Poznań (Poland)10.1016/j.landusepol.2020.104688 ↗
64. (2022, October 05). Case Studies|CleverCities. Available online: https://clevercities.eu/.
65. A general procedure to identify indicators for evaluation and monitoring of nature-based solution projects10.1007/s13280-022-01740-0 ↗
66. Tosun, J., and Leopold, L. (2019). Aligning Climate Governance with Urban Water Management: Insights from Transnational City Networks. Water, 11.10.3390/w11040701 ↗
67. Scharf, B., Kogler, M., Kraus, F., Perez, I., and Garcia, L.G. (2021). NBS Impact Evaluation with GREENPASS Methodology Shown by the Case Study ‘Fischbeker Höfe’ in Hamburg/Germany. Sustainability, 13.10.3390/su13169167 ↗
68. Arlati, A., Rödl, A., Kanjaria-Christian, S., and Knieling, J. (2021). Stakeholder Participation in the Planning and Design of Nature-Based Solutions. Insights from CLEVER Cities Project in Hamburg. Sustainability, 13.10.3390/su13052572 ↗
69. An overview of monitoring methods for assessing the performance of nature-based solutions against natural hazards10.1016/j.earscirev.2021.103603 ↗
70. Poniży, L., Latkowska, M.J., Breuste, J., Hursthouse, A., Joimel, S., Külvik, M., Leitão, T.E., Mizgajski, A., Voigt, A., and Kacprzak, E. (2021). The Rich Diversity of Urban Allotment Gardens in Europe: Contemporary Trends in the Context of Historical, Socio-Economic and Legal Conditions. Sustainability, 13.10.3390/su131911076 ↗
71. Cui, M., Ferreira, F., Fung, T., and Matos, J.S. (2021). Tale of two cities: How nature-based solutions help create adaptive and resilient urban water management practices in singapore and lisbon. Sustainability, 13.10.3390/su131810427 ↗
72. Canet-Martí, A., Pineda-Martos, R., Junge, R., Bohn, K., Paço, T.A., Delgado, C., Alenčikienė, G., Skar, S.L.G., and Baganz, G.F.M. (2021). Nature-based solutions for agriculture in circular cities: Challenges, gaps, and opportunities. Water, 13.10.3390/w13182565 ↗
73. Co-creation Pathways to Inform Shared Governance of Urban Living Labs in Practice: Lessons from Three European Projects10.3389/frsc.2021.690458 ↗
74. A review of nature-based solutions for resource recovery in cities10.2166/bgs.2020.930 ↗
75. van Hullebusch, E.D., Bani, A., Carvalho, M., Cetecioglu, Z., De Gusseme, B., Di Lonardo, S., Djolic, M., van Eekert, M., Griessler Bulc, T., and Haznedaroglu, B.Z. (2021). Nature-based units as building blocks for resource recovery systems in cities. Water, 13.10.3390/w13223153 ↗
76. The water-management aspect of blue-green infrastructure in cities10.5379/urbani-izziv-en-2021-32-01-003 ↗
77. Engaging stakeholders in the assessment of NBS effectiveness in flood risk reduction: A participatory System Dynamics Model for benefits and co-benefits evaluation10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.07.059 ↗
78. Evaluating natural capital performance of urban development through system dynamics: A case study from London10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153673 ↗
79. Nature based solutions for contaminated land remediation and brownfield redevelopment in cities: A review10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.01.347 ↗
80. Mahmoud, I.H., Morello, E., Vona, C., Benciolini, M., Sejdullahu, I., Trentin, M., and Pascual, K.H. (2021). Setting the social monitoring framework for nature-based solutions impact: Methodological approach and pre-greening measurements in the case study from clever cities milan. Sustainability, 13.10.3390/su13179672 ↗
81. Koppelaar, R., Marvuglia, A., Havinga, L., Brajković, J., and Rugani, B. (2021). Is Agent-Based Simulation a Valid Tool for Studying the Impact of Nature-Based Solutions on Local Economy? A Case Study of Four European Cities. Sustainability, 13.10.3390/su13137466 ↗
82. Piga, B.E.A., Stancato, G., Rainisio, N., and Boffi, M. (2021). How Do Nature-Based Solutions’ Color Tones Influence People’s Emotional Reaction? An Assessment via Virtual and Augmented Reality in a Participatory Process. Sustainability, 13.10.3390/su132313388 ↗
83. Salvatori, E., Gentile, C., Altieri, A., Aramini, F., and Manes, F. (2020). Nature-Based Solution for Reducing CO2 Levels in Museum Environments: A Phytoremediation Study for the Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Last Supper’. Sustainability, 12.10.3390/su12020565 ↗
84. di Biagi, P., Basso, S., Marin, A., Tzortzi, J., Guaita, L., and Kouzoupi, A. (2022). Sustainable Strategies for Urban and Landscape Regeneration Related to Agri-Cultural Heritage in the Urban-Periphery of South Milan. Sustainability, 14.10.3390/su14116581 ↗
85. The effect of green roofs on the reduction of mortality due to heatwaves: Results from the application of a spatial microsimulation model to four European cities10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2020.109351 ↗
86. Integrating green infrastructure into spatial planning regulations to improve the performance of urban ecosystems. Insights from an Italian case study10.1016/j.scs.2019.101907 ↗
87. Conti, M.E., Battaglia, M., Calabrese, M., and Simone, C. (2021). Fostering Sustainable Cities through Resilience Thinking: The Role of Nature-Based Solutions (NBSs): Lessons Learned from Two Italian Case Studies. Sustainability, 13.10.3390/su132212875 ↗
88. Which urban design parameters provide climate-proof cities? An application of the Urban Cooling InVEST Model in the city of Milan comparing historical planning morphologies10.1016/j.scs.2020.102459 ↗
89. Introducing nature-based solutions into urban policy—Facts and gaps. Case study of Poznań10.1016/j.landusepol.2019.03.025 ↗
90. Potential nature-based solutions and greenwashing to generate green spaces: Developers’ claims versus reality in new housing offers10.1016/j.ufug.2021.127345 ↗
91. Dymek, D., Wilkaniec, A., Bednorz, L., and Szczepańska, M. (2021). Significance of allotment gardens in urban green space systems and their classification for spatial planning purposes: A case study of poznań, poland. Sustainability, 13.10.3390/su131911044 ↗
92. Beyond TRL—Understanding institutional readiness for implementation of nature-based solutions10.1016/j.envsci.2021.09.021 ↗
93. Seven lessons for planning nature-based solutions in cities10.1016/j.envsci.2018.12.033 ↗
94. Säumel, I., Reddy, S., and Wachtel, T. (2019). Edible City Solutions—One Step Further to Foster Social Resilience through Enhanced Socio-Cultural Ecosystem Services in Cities. Sustainability, 11.10.3390/su11040972 ↗
95. Nature-based solutions and their potential to attract the young generations10.1016/j.landusepol.2020.105176 ↗
96. Qi, Y., Chan, F.K.S., Thorne, C., O’Donnell, E., Quagliolo, C., Comino, E., Pezzoli, A., Li, L., Griffiths, J., and Sang, Y. (2020). Addressing Challenges of Urban Water Management in Chinese Sponge Cities via Nature-Based Solutions. Water, 12.10.3390/w12102788 ↗
97. Salata, S., Ronchi, S., Giaimo, C., Arcidiacono, A., and Pantaloni, G.G. (2021). Performance-Based Planning to Reduce Flooding Vulnerability Insights from the Case of Turin (North-West Italy). Sustainability, 13.10.3390/su13105697 ↗
98. Structural conditions for the wider uptake of urban nature-based solutions—A conceptual framework10.1016/j.cities.2021.103283 ↗
99. Nurturing nature: Exploring socio-spatial conditions for urban experimentation10.1016/j.eist.2019.11.010 ↗
100. Scaling up nature-based solutions for climate-change adaptation: Potential and benefits in three European cities10.1016/j.ufug.2021.127450 ↗