Nature-based approaches to managing climate change impacts in cities

Area of Science:

• Urban planning and climate adaptation science.
• Ecosystem-based adaptation and resilience.

Background:

• Cities amplify climate change impacts due to impervious surfaces (urban heat islands, increased flooding) and settlement patterns (coastal/riverine exposure).
• Vulnerable populations are disproportionately affected by climate hazards in urban settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the potential of nature-based strategies (NBS) as flexible and multi-functional approaches to urban climate change adaptation.
• To identify research gaps concerning the effectiveness, scalability, and economic viability of NBS.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on urban climate change impacts and nature-based solutions.
• Analysis of the characteristics of NBS, including their adaptability to non-stationary climate futures.
• Identification of critical factors for successful NBS implementation, such as scale, community input, and context-appropriateness.

Main Results:

• Nature-based strategies (NBS) show promise for managing climate change hazards in cities.
• NBS effectiveness, scalability, and cost-benefit analyses (including co-benefits and disservices) require further investigation.
• Successful NBS implementation depends on matching strategy scale to the challenge, incorporating diverse perspectives, and aligning with local contexts.

Conclusions:

• NBS can be more adaptable than traditional methods for urban climate change management.
• Future research must address NBS effectiveness, scalability, and equitable cost-benefit assessments.
• Effective and fair NBS require context-specific design, broad community engagement, and appropriate scaling to address climate challenges.