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

Self Cite

Urban agriculture (UA) plays a key role in the circular metabolism of cities, as it can use water resources, nutrients, and other materials recovered from streams that currently leave the city as solid waste or as wastewater to produce new food and biomass. The ecosystem services of urban green spaces and infrastructures and the productivity of specific urban agricultural technologies have been discussed in literature. However, the understanding of input and output (I/O) streams of different nature-based solutions (NBS) is not yet sufficient to identify the challenges and opportunities they offer for strengthening circularity in UA. We propose a series of agriculture NBS, which, implemented in cities, would address circularity challenges in different urban spaces. To identify the challenges, gaps, and opportunities related to the enhancement of resources management of agriculture NBS, we evaluated NBS units, interventions, and supporting units, and analyzed I/O streams as links of urban circularity. A broader understanding of the food-related urban streams is important to recover resources and adapt the distribution system accordingly. As a result, we pinpointed the gaps that hinder the development of UA as a potential opportunity within the framework of the Circular City.

Section: What Does Circularity Imply For Urban Agriculture?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nature-Based Solutions for Agriculture in Circular Cities: Challenges, Gaps, and Opportunities

Canet-Martí

Pineda-Martos

Junge

et al. 2021

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“…In pursuit of sustainability, cities are increasingly putting nature-based solutions (NBS) in the spotlight because of their high potential to address several urban challenges related to resources management in cities such as climate adaptation and mitigation, sustainable consumption and production, air quality, and water management [3][4][5]. In this work, we use the definition of the COST Action CA17133 Circular City [6] whereby NBS are defined as "concepts that bring nature into cities and those that are derived from nature.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Framework for Addressing Circularity Challenges in Cities with Nature-Based Solutions

Langergraber

Castellar

Pucher

et al. 2021

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A novel framework is presented that aims to guide practitioners and decision makers toward a better understanding of the role of nature-based solutions (NBS) in the enhancement of resources management in cities, and the mainstreaming of NBS in the urban fabric. Existing frameworks describing the use of NBS to address urban challenges do not specifically consider circularity challenges. Thus, the new framework provides the following: (1) a comprehensive set of Urban Circularity Challenges (UCCs); (2) a set of more than fifty NBS units and NBS interventions thoroughly assessed in terms of their potential to address UCCs; and (3) an analysis of input and output resource streams, which are both required for and produced during operation of NBS. The new framework aims to facilitate the coupling of individual NBS units and NBS interventions with NBS that enable circular economy solutions.

“…In urban regeneration projects, NBSs can effectively be used to address this issue. Circular buildings positively impact materials, energy, waste, biodiversity, health and wellbeing, human culture, and society at once [21]. Additionally, they may produce multiple forms of value [22].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For building sites, NBS_u/i are relevant when implemented within the urban landscape. This implementation requires the interaction of multiple disciplines, from landscape architecture to urban climatology, to successfully realize the potential of these nature-based strategies and integrate them into the city fabric [21]. Other specific criteria for selecting relevant NBS_u/i are described below.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards a Cross-Sectoral View of Nature-Based Solutions for Enabling Circular Cities

Langergraber

Castellar

Andersen

et al. 2021

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A framework developed by the COST Action Circular City (an EU-funded network of 500+ scientists from 40+ countries; COST = Cooperation in Science and Technology) for addressing Urban Circularity Challenges (UCCs) with nature-based solutions (NBSs) was analyzed by various urban sectors which refer to different fields of activities for circular management of resources in cities (i.e., reducing use of resources and production of waste). The urban sectors comprise the built environment, urban water management, resource recovery, and urban farming. We present main findings from sector analyses, discuss different sector perspectives, and show ways to overcome these differences. The results reveal the potential of NBSs to address multiple sectors, as well as multiple UCCs. While water has been identified as a key element when using NBSs in the urban environment, most NBSs are interconnected and also present secondary benefits for other resources. Using representative examples, we discuss how a holistic and systemic approach could facilitate the circular use of resources in cities. Currently, there is often a disciplinary focus on one resource when applying NBSs. The full potential of NBSs to address multifunctionality is, thus, usually not fully accounted for. On the basis of our results, we conclude that experts from various disciplines can engage in a cross-sectoral exchange and identify the full potential of NBSs to recover resources in circular cities and provide secondary benefits to improve the livelihood for locals. This is an important first step toward the full multifunctionality potential enabling of NBSs.