Nature-Based Solutions for Resilient and Thriving Cities: Opportunities and Challenges for Planning Future Cities

Frantzeskaki, Niki; Mahmoud, Israa H.; Morello, Eugenio

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-89525-9_1

Nature-Based Solutions for Resilient and Thriving Cities: Opportunities and Challenges for Planning Future Cities

Chapter
First Online: 05 March 2022

378 Accesses
1 Altmetric

Part of the Contemporary Urban Design Thinking book series (CUDT)

Abstract

This chapter explains the importance for nature-based solutions as resilience infrastructure of cities. It sets the scene for the challenges and opportunities presented by a city-wide uptake and implementation of nature-based solutions as integrative and systemic solutions to planning for urban resilience and sustainability. We present not only the origins and the reasons for preferring nature-based solutions over conventional grey infrastructure for dealing with climate change pressures but also how different planning aspects of nature-based solutions need to be reconsidered, reimagined and thereafter, transformed. In conclusion, an outlook towards future cities is given on revolutionizing urban planning practice through nature-based solutions.

Keywords

Urban planning
Urban policy
Nature-based solutions implementation
Knowledge
Urban regeneration
Cities

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Chapter: USD 29.95; Price excludes VAT (USA)

eBook: USD 139.00; Price excludes VAT (USA)

Hardcover Book: USD 179.99; Price excludes VAT (USA)

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Notes

References

Ahlborg, H., Ruiz-Mercado, I., Molander, S., & Masera, O. (2019). Bringing technology into social-ecological systems research-motivations for a socio-technical-ecological systems approach. Sustainability, 11, 1–23. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11072009
CrossRef Google Scholar
Alberti, M. (2016). Cities that think like planets: Complexity, resilience, and innovation in hybrid ecosystems. University of Washington Press. http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctvcwn7jm
Basnou, C., Pino, J., Davies, C., et al. (2020). Co-design processes to address nature-based solutions and ecosystem services demands: The long and winding road towards inclusive urban planning. Frontiers in Sustainable Cities, 2, 1–4. https://doi.org/10.3389/frsc.2020.572556
CrossRef Google Scholar
Bayulken, B., Huisingh, D., & Fisher, P. M. J. (2021). How are nature based solutions helping in the greening of cities in the context of crises such as climate change and pandemics? A comprehensive review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 288, 125569. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.125569
CAS CrossRef Google Scholar
Bush, J., Coffey, B., & Fastenrath, S. (2020). Governing urban greening at a metropolitan scale: An analysis of the Living Melbourne strategy. Australian Planner, 56, 95–102. https://doi.org/10.1080/07293682.2020.1739093
CrossRef Google Scholar
Coenen, L., Davidson, K., Frantzeskaki, N., et al. (2020). Metropolitan governance in action? Learning from metropolitan Melbourne’s urban forest strategy. Australian Planner, 56, 144–148. https://doi.org/10.1080/07293682.2020.1740286
CrossRef Google Scholar
Cohen-Shacham, E., Andrade, A., Dalton, J., et al. (2019). Core principles for successfully implementing and upscaling nature-based solutions. Environmental Science & Policy, 98, 20–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2019.04.014
CrossRef Google Scholar
Davies, C., & Lafortezza, R. (2019). Transitional path to the adoption of nature-based solutions. Land Use Policy, 80, 406–409. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2018.09.020
CrossRef Google Scholar
De Lotto, R. (2017). Nature-based solutions in city planning: The case of Segrate Municipality (Milan). Urbanistica Informazioni, 802–804.
Google Scholar
Dorst, H., van der Jagt, A., Raven, R., & Runhaar, H. (2019). Urban greening through nature-based solutions – Key characteristics of an emerging concept. Sustainable Cities and Society, 49, 101620. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2019.101620
CrossRef Google Scholar
Egerer, M., Haase, D., McPhearson, T., Frantzeskaki, N., Andersson, E., Nagendra, H., & Ossola, A. (2021). Urban change as an untapped opportunity for climate adaptation. Urban Sustainability, 1, 22. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42949-021-00024-y
Eggermont, H., Balian, E., Azevedo, J. M. N., et al. (2015). Nature-based solutions: New influence for environmental management and research in Europe. GAIA-Ecological Perspectives on Science and Society, 24, 243–248. https://doi.org/10.14512/gaia.24.4.9
CrossRef Google Scholar
European Commission. (2016). Nature-based solutions. https://ec.europa.eu/research/environment/index.cfm?pg=nbs
Google Scholar
European Commission. (2019). Ecosystem services and green infrastructure. https://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/ecosystems/index_en.htm
European Commission. (2021). Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, Evaluating the impact of nature-based solutions: a handbook for practitioners, Publications Office. https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2777/244577
Faivre, N., Fritz, M., Freitas, T., et al. (2017). Nature-based solutions in the EU: Innovating with nature to address social, economic and environmental challenges. Environmental Research, 159, 509–518. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2017.08.032
CAS PubMed CrossRef Google Scholar
Fastenrath, S., Bush, J., & Coenen, L. (2020). Scaling-up nature-based solutions. Lessons from the Living Melbourne strategy. Geoforum, 116, 63–72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2020.07.011
CrossRef Google Scholar
Ferreira, V., Barreira, A. P., Loures, L., et al. (2020). Stakeholders’ engagement on nature-based solutions: A systematic literature review. Sustainability, 12, 1–27. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12020640
Google Scholar
Fink, H. S. (2016). Human-nature for climate action: Nature-based solutions for urban sustainability. Sustainability, 8. https://doi.org/10.3390/su8030254
Frantzeskaki, N. (2019). Seven lessons for planning nature-based solutions in cities. Environmental Science & Policy, 93, 101–111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2018.12.033
CrossRef Google Scholar
Frantzeskaki, N., & Tilie, N. (2014). The dynamics of urban ecosystem governance in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Ambio, 43, 542–555. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-014-0512-0
PubMed PubMed Central CrossRef Google Scholar
Frantzeskaki, N., McPhearson, T., Collier, M. J., et al. (2019). Nature-based solutions for urban climate change adaptation: Linking science, policy, and practice communities for evidence-based decision-making. Bioscience, 69, 455–466. https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biz042
CrossRef Google Scholar
Frantzeskaki, N., Vandergert, P., Connop, S., et al. (2020). 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). Land Use Policy, 96, 104688. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2020.104688
CrossRef Google Scholar
Frantzeskaki, N., Mcphearson, T., & Kabisch, N. (2021). Urban sustainability science: Prospects for innovations through a system’ s perspective, relational and transformations’ approaches. Ambio. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-021-01521-1
Geneletti, D., Esmail, B. A., Cortinovis, C., et al. (2020). Ecosystem services mapping and assessment for policy-and decision-making: Lessons learned from a comparative analysis of European case studies. One Ecosystem, 5, 1–31. https://doi.org/10.3897/oneeco.5.e53111
CrossRef Google Scholar
Gildner P, Pacheco K, Jackson K, et al (2014) Hackable cities: A toolkit for re-imagining your neighbourhood.
Google Scholar
Habibipour, A., Ståhlbröst, A., Zalokar, S., & Vaittinen, I. (2020). Living lab handbook for urban living labs developing nature-based solutions. 27.
Google Scholar
Hansen, R., & Pauleit, S. (2014). From multifunctionality to multiple ecosystem services? A conceptual framework for multifunctionality in green infrastructure planning for urban areas. Ambio, 43, 516–529. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-014-0510-2
PubMed PubMed Central CrossRef Google Scholar
Hoover, F., Meerow, S., Grabowski, Z. J., & Meerow, S. (2021). Environmental justice implications of siting criteria in urban green infrastructure planning. Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning, 0, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/1523908X.2021.1945916
Google Scholar
ICLEI. (2017). Nature-based solutions for sustainable urban development. 1–6.
Google Scholar
IUCN. (2012). The IUCN programme 2013–2016. In IUCN World Conservation Congress (pp. 1–30).
Google Scholar
Kabisch, N., Korn, H., Stadler, J., & Bonn, A. (2017). Nature based solutions to climate change adaptation in urban areas: Linkages between science, policy and practice. Springer OPEN.
CrossRef Google Scholar
La Rosa, D., & Privitera, R. (Eds.). (2021). Innovation in urban and regional planning (Vol. 146). Springer.
Google Scholar
Lafortezza, R., & Sanesi, G. (2019). Nature-based solutions: Settling the issue of sustainable urbanization. Environmental Research, 172, 394–398. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2018.12.063
CAS PubMed CrossRef Google Scholar
Lam, D. P. M., Martín-López, B., Wiek, A., et al. (2020). Scaling the impact of sustainability initiatives: A typology of amplification processes. Urban Transformations, 2. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42854-020-00007-9
Leung, V. A., Woiwode, N., & Smith, M. P. (2018). A procurement guide to nature-based solutions.
Google Scholar
Lin, B. B., Ossola, A., Alberti, M., et al. (2021). Viewpoint integrating solutions to adapt cities for climate change. The Lancet Planetary Health, 479–486. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(21)00135-2
Mahmoud, I., & Morello, E. (2018). Co-creation pathway as a catalyst for implementing nature-based solution in urban regeneration strategies learning from CLEVER cities framework and Milano as test-bed. Urbanistica Informazioni, 278, 204–210.
Google Scholar
Mahmoud, I., & Morello, E. (2020). Are nature-based solutions the answer to urban sustainability dilemma? The case of CLEVER cities CALs within the Milanese urban context. In Atti della XXII Conferenza Nazionale SIU. L’Urbanistica italiana di fronte all’Agenda 2030. Portare territori e comunità sulla strada della sostenibilità e della resilienza (pp. 1322–1327). Planum Publisher. ISBN 9788899237219. http://media.planum.bedita.net/78/be/Atti_XXII_Conferenza_Nazionale_SIU_Matera-Bari_WORKSHOP_3.1_Planum_Publisher_2020.pdf
Mahmoud, I., & Morello, E. (2021). Co-creation pathway for urban nature-based solutions: Testing a shared-governance approach in three cities and nine action labs. In A. Bisello et al. (Eds.), Smart and sustainable planning for cities and regions (pp. 259–276). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57764-3_17
Mahmoud, I. H., Appleyard, B. S., & Bevilacqua, C. (2017). From a highway to a greenway: A land use dilemma or a rebirth of a place? The case of Northend Park, Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Green Way: Boston, MA, USA. Urbanistica Informazioni, 272, 388–392. http://www.urbanisticainformazioni.it/IMG/pdf/ui_272si_04_sessione_04.pdf
Google Scholar
Mahmoud, I. H., Appleyard, B. S., & Bevilacqua, C. (2019). From ‘highway into greenway’: How public spaces change zoning regulations. Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies, 2, 200–210. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-92102-0
Mahmoud, I. H., Morello, E., Vona, C., Benciolini, M., Sejdullahu, I., Trentin, M., & Pascual, K. H. (2021a). 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(17), 9672. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13179672
Mahmoud, I. H., Morello, E., Ludlow, D., & Salvia, G. (2021b). Co-creation pathways to inform shared governance of urban living labs in practice: Lessons from three European projects. Frontiers in Sustainable Cities, 3(August), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.3389/frsc.2021.690458
Malekpour, S., Tawfik, S., & Chesterfield, C. (2021). Designing collaborative governance for nature-based solutions. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 62, 127177. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2021.127177
CrossRef Google Scholar
Moloney, S., & Doyon, A. (2021). The Resilient Melbourne experiment: Analyzing the conditions for transformative urban resilience implementation. Cities, 110, 103017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2020.103017
CrossRef Google Scholar
Nesshöver, C., Assmuth, T., Irvine, K. N., et al. (2017). The science, policy and practice of nature-based solutions: An interdisciplinary perspective. Science of the Total Environment, 579, 1215–1227. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.11.106
CrossRef Google Scholar
Pauleit, S., Andersson, E., Anton, B., et al. (2019). Urban green infrastructure – Connecting people and nature for sustainable cities. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 40, 1–3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2019.04.007
CrossRef Google Scholar
Pineda-pinto, M., Frantzeskaki, N., & Nygaard, C. A. (2021). The potential of nature-based solutions to deliver ecologically just cities: Lessons for research and urban planning from a systematic literature review. Ambio. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-021-01553-7
Raymond, C. M., Frantzeskaki, N., Kabisch, N., et al. (2017). A framework for assessing and implementing the co-benefits of nature-based solutions in urban areas. Environmental Science & Policy, 77, 15–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2017.07.008
CrossRef Google Scholar
Rizzo, A., Habibipour, A., & Ståhlbröst, A. (2021). Transformative thinking and urban living labs in planning practice: A critical review and ongoing case studies in Europe. European Planning Studies, 0, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2021.1911955
Google Scholar
Salvia, G., & Morello, E. (2020). Sharing cities and citizens sharing: Perceptions and practices in Milan. Cities, 98, 102592. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2019.102592
CrossRef Google Scholar
Sarabi, H., Romme, et al. (2019). Key enablers of and barriers to the uptake and implementation of nature-based solutions in urban settings: A review. Resources, 8, 121. https://doi.org/10.3390/resources8030121
CrossRef Google Scholar
Skodra, J., Connop, S., Tacnet, J.-M., Van Cauwenbergh, N., Almassy, D., Baldacchini, C., Basco Carrera, L., Caitana, B., Cardinali, M., Feliu, E., Garcia, I., et al. (2021). Principles guiding NBS performance and impact evaluation. In A. Dumitru & L. Wendling (Eds.), Evaluating the impact of nature-based solutions (pp. 47–70). European Commission.
Google Scholar
van den Bosch, M., & Sang, O. (2017). Urban natural environments as nature-based solutions for improved public health – A systematic review of reviews. Environmental Research, 158, 373–384. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2017.05.040
PubMed CrossRef Google Scholar
van der Jagt, A. P. N., Szaraz, L. R., Delshammar, T., et al. (2017). Cultivating nature-based solutions: The governance of communal urban gardens in the European Union. Environmental Research, 159, 264–275. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2017.08.013
PubMed CrossRef Google Scholar
Wendling, L., Huovila, A., zu Castell-Rüdenhausen, M., et al. (2018). Benchmarking nature-based solution and smart city assessment schemes against the sustainable development goal indicator framework. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 6, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2018.00069
CrossRef Google Scholar

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Centre for Urban Transitions, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Niki Frantzeskaki
Chair Professor in Regional and Metropolitan Governance and Planning Human Geography and Spatial Planning Faculty of Geosciences Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Niki Frantzeskaki
Laboratorio di Simulazione Urbana Fausto Curti, Department of Architecture and Urban Studies (DAStU) Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
Israa H. Mahmoud & Eugenio Morello

Authors

Niki Frantzeskaki
View author publications
You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar
Israa H. Mahmoud
View author publications
You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar
Eugenio Morello
View author publications
You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Niki Frantzeskaki .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Laboratorio di Simulazione Urbana Fausto Curti, Department of Architecture and Urban Studies (DAStU), Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
Dr. Israa H. Mahmoud
Laboratorio di Simulazione Urbana Fausto Curti, Department of Architecture and Urban Studies (DAStU), Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
Eugenio Morello
Department of Architecture and Urban Studies – (DAStU), Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
Fabiano Lemes de Oliveira
Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
Davide Geneletti

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

Copyright information

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Frantzeskaki, N., Mahmoud, I.H., Morello, E. (2022). Nature-Based Solutions for Resilient and Thriving Cities: Opportunities and Challenges for Planning Future Cities. In: Mahmoud, I.H., Morello, E., Lemes de Oliveira, F., Geneletti, D. (eds) Nature-based Solutions for Sustainable Urban Planning. Contemporary Urban Design Thinking. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-89525-9_1

Download citation

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-89525-9_1
Published: 05 March 2022
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-89524-2
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-89525-9
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)