Greening Cities

Nature-based solutions (NBS) have gained traction in recent years because of their potential to promote sustainable development and reduce disaster risks. In addition to their socioeconomic benefits for people, NBS can be used for up to 37 percent of the climate mitigation actions needed to achieve the emissions goals of the Paris Agreement.

This strategy paper draws from existing research and practical project experience applying nature-based solutions (NBS) for adaptation and building climate resilience in informal areas to better understand the potential for upscaling implementation as well as the challenges.

 

Green spaces in urban areas supply multiple benefits, however, this was thought to come at the cost of density. New evidence argues that while there is often a trade-off between increased density and providing green space, this does not need to be the case. In parts of the US, Singapore and Curitiba, there are examples showing that an urban world that is both green and dense is possible, if society chooses to take advantage of the available green interventions.

 

We are living in the urban century, one where urbanization is driving multiple global environmental changes that in turn place stress and cause major disturbances to urban life and ecosystems.

Reducing excess urban heat and protecting populations from extreme temperatures is one of the 21st century’s key resilience and sustainability challenges. As the planet warms, cities are increasingly finding that they need new ways to keep urban temperatures down to protect their residents. Urban cooling options have primarily focused on space cooling through air conditioning. Nature-based solutions and leveraging urban design to cool cities have yet to be fully deployed and understood, especially by policymakers and urban planners.

“Banco San Miguel y Bahía de Asunción” Ecological Reserve is the city’s largest green area. Spreading over 300 hectares, this unique ecosystem is recognized worldwide as a conservation site for shore and migratory birds. However, the reserve is home to numerous families living in vulnerable conditions. Waste management has become a social and environmental challenge in the area, but the community is working with the Asunción Green City project to reduce irregular dumpsites and restore the reserve.