A review of green infrastructure research in Europe: Challenges and opportunities

Chatzimentor, Anastasia; Apostolopoulou, Elia; Mazaris, Antonios D.

doi:10.1016/j.landurbplan.2020.103775

Cited by 107 publications

(58 citation statements)

References 63 publications

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“…A holistic approach should inform the development of robust and explicit policy targets aligned across the UNFCCC, CBD and SDGs (Milbank et al, 2018; Panfil & Harvey, 2016). Together with baseline assessments and better monitoring of NbS outcomes, explicit targets can help to ensure multiple benefits for biodiversity (Chatzimentor et al, 2020; Xie & Bulkeley, 2020), social equity, climate and other goals.…”

Section: What Is Needed Nowmentioning

confidence: 99%

Getting the message right on nature‐based solutions to climate change

Seddon

Smith

et al. 2021

Global Change Biology

439

294

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Nature‐based solutions (NbS)—solutions to societal challenges that involve working with nature—have recently gained popularity as an integrated approach that can address climate change and biodiversity loss, while supporting sustainable development. Although well‐designed NbS can deliver multiple benefits for people and nature, much of the recent limelight has been on tree planting for carbon sequestration. There are serious concerns that this is distracting from the need to rapidly phase out use of fossil fuels and protect existing intact ecosystems. There are also concerns that the expansion of forestry framed as a climate change mitigation solution is coming at the cost of carbon rich and biodiverse native ecosystems and local resource rights. Here, we discuss the promise and pitfalls of the NbS framing and its current political traction, and we present recommendations on how to get the message right. We urge policymakers, practitioners and researchers to consider the synergies and trade‐offs associated with NbS and to follow four guiding principles to enable NbS to provide sustainable benefits to society: (1) NbS are not a substitute for the rapid phase out of fossil fuels; (2) NbS involve a wide range of ecosystems on land and in the sea, not just forests; (3) NbS are implemented with the full engagement and consent of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in a way that respects their cultural and ecological rights; and (4) NbS should be explicitly designed to provide measurable benefits for biodiversity. Only by following these guidelines will we design robust and resilient NbS that address the urgent challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss, sustaining nature and people together, now and into the future.

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Section: What Is Needed Nowmentioning

confidence: 99%

Getting the message right on nature‐based solutions to climate change

Seddon

Smith

et al. 2021

Global Change Biology

439

294

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…The term GI has received a considerable interest from several scientific, political, and, professional disciplines at different levels, as an integrated approach with significant impact from both environmental and socio-economic perspectives, particularly in urban areas [43][44][45]. The EU Strategy for promoting GI, launched in 2013, proposed in its communication on enhancing Europe's Natural Capital, a short definition of GI as 'a strategically planned network of natural and semi-natural areas with other environmental features designed and managed to deliver a wide range of ES', being able to be present in urban settings [46].…”

Section: Green Infrastructure Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services In The Context Of Nature-based Solutionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nature-Based Solutions in Cities—Contribution of the Portuguese National Association of Green Roofs to Urban Circularity

Pineda-Martos

Calheiros

2021

Circ.Econ.Sust.

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Green building-integrated systems and technologies (e.g., green roofs (GR) and walls (GW)) are classified as nature-based solutions (NBS) in the context of urban green infrastructure (GI), which contribute to add both natural elements and processes, as a result of locally designed, resource-efficient, and systemic interventions in cities. They have also been considered to address several urban challenges towards cities' circularity. The European Union (EU) Biodiversity Strategy and the Action Plan recently adopted by the European Commission, represent a comprehensive long-term programme aspiring to protect nature and reversing the ecosystem degradation by 2030. Sustainable and resilient societies under the challenge 'innovating with nature' are the leading aim of the EU Research and Innovation (R&I) policy agenda goals on NBS and re-naturing urban areas. The European GI/NBS Associations build the bridge to provide a network among stakeholders from academia, municipalities, entrepreneurs and private-sector entities and other non-governmental organisations, by creating a platform to build and share knowledge and create collaboration on sustainable GI/NBS, regarding building-integrated vegetation approaches as well as related policies, regulations and technical guidelines. The commitments of the foundations to encourage and promote the advanced adoption of green urban infrastructure practice and planning as part of the built environment, drive active efforts to support NBS innovation objectives and the transition from 'grey to green' infrastructure. The present manuscript aims at reflecting the crucial role of the Associations on GI/NBS, mainly GR and GW, to develop local frameworks applying innovative plans of action, and allocate R&I opportunities implementing relevant and inclusive urban regeneration solutions. Within this context, it will be highlighted the example of the Portuguese National Association of Green Roofs.

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“…In accordance with the European Green Infrastructure Strategy (EC, 2013 ), GI is defined as “strategically planned network of natural and semi-natural areas with other environmental features designed and managed to deliver a wide range of ecosystem services. GI is present in rural and urban settings.” Despite the wide spectrum of environments for which GI is applied, in practice it seems to be mainly in urban areas (Chatzimentor et al, 2020 ). Possibly because its primary objective is to reproduce natural ecosystems services and that is essential for soils and human health (Coutts & Hahn, 2015 ; EC, 2013 ) and because of less presence of green areas in urban areas.…”

Section: Europe Green Strategymentioning

confidence: 99%

Urban areas, human health and technosols for the green deal

Rodrıguez-Espinosa

Pedreño

Gómez-Lucas

et al. 2021

Environ Geochem Health

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Authors aim to carry out a bibliographic review as an initial approach to state of the art related to the quality of urban soils, as well as its possible link with human health. This concern arises from the need to highlight the consequences that soil could face, derived from the growth and aging of the population, as well as its predicted preference for urban settlement. Urban development may pose a challenge to the health of urban soils, due to degradative processes that it entails, such as land take, sealing, contamination or compaction. A healthy soil is the one which maintains the capacity to support ecosystem services, so it can provide numerous benefits to human health and well-being (carbon sequestration, protection against flooding, retention and immobilization of pollutants and a growth media for vegetation and food production). This article addresses threats facing urban soils, the strategies put forward by the European Union to deal with them, as well as the issues that require further attention. Greening cities could be a consensual solution, so authors analyze whether soils of cities are ready for that challenge and what resources need to maintain soil ecosystem functions. This review proposes to use made by waste Technosols for a sustainable green city. Although the use of Technosols as a type of soil is very recent, the interest of the scientific community in this field continues to grow.

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A review of green infrastructure research in Europe: Challenges and opportunities

Cited by 107 publications

References 63 publications

Getting the message right on nature‐based solutions to climate change

Getting the message right on nature‐based solutions to climate change

Nature-Based Solutions in Cities—Contribution of the Portuguese National Association of Green Roofs to Urban Circularity

Urban areas, human health and technosols for the green deal

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