Research database

Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are hailed for their multiple benefits, but these benefits are unequally distributed among communities and ecosystems. Moreover, the contribution of NbS to mitigating climate risks remains ill-defined. Both theory and practice have embraced Inclusive Climate Actions (ICAs) that better account for potential dilemmas and trade-offs. A systematic evaluation of ICAs in European cities, however, has not yet been examined. The GREEN-INC project will assess the performance of ICAs in five European cities (Amsterdam, Bucharest, Brussels, Skellefteå, and Turin) that face different climate change impacts and that are rooted in different planning systems. This systematic and holistic evaluation will result in the identification of institutional conditions and design principles under which ICAs can flourish, helping the uptake of NbS in different European contexts. Our innovative research strategy consists of a comparative case study approach combining quantitative assessment (spatial and environmental analysis) with qualitative assessment (community vulnerability analysis and institutional analysis). Principles from these assessments will be tested and validated in five living labs with local partners in the five cities. Altogether, GREEN-INC will help European cities to implement NbS that move beyond single outputs and instead consider the broader outcomes on communities and ecosystems