Speaker
Description
Nature-based solutions (NBS) offer a promising framework for addressing urban environmental challenges while also enhancing social and economic resilience. As cities seek to achieve climate neutrality, the integration of NBS with Renewable Energy Sources (RES) presents both an opportunity and a challenge requiring an interdisciplinary approach and an innovative planning strategy. In this context, the present study aims to explore how NBS can contribute to urban resilience and climate neutrality, focusing particularly on their possible impact on urban climate adaptation, (e.g., reducing the effects of the urban heat islands) and mitigation, by facilitating local energy production through synergies with RES. As part of the ReGenWest project, an EU Cities Mission pilot, this research aims to advance the integration of nature-based solutions into dense urban environments and to investigate pathways for integrating RES and NBS. A combination of theoretical principles and practical applications provides insights into the intersection of climate adaptation and mitigation, and highlights the role of urban planning and design
The western center of Thessaloniki, Greece, and particularly the Railway Station District, serves as the focal pilot area. This district faces escalating challenges related to climate change, including heat island effects, air pollution, and flash flooding. It is also affected by mobility disruptions linked to the prolonged construction of the metro, and socio-economic disparities. Given its ongoing transformation, the area seems to be an ideal case for exploring how integrated NBS (i.e. green infrastructure and green networks) and RES solutions (i.e. photovoltaic panels and solar shading) can enhance urban resilience. Key areas of intervention include the transformation of public open spaces and the reconfiguration of neglected urban pockets, some of which contain underutilized green spaces.
However, designing and implementing these approaches requires overcoming several technical, regulatory and financial barriers. International frameworks define NBS as using natural processes to address these challenges (barriers) in a sustainable and cost-effective manner, while also providing a significant range of ecosystem services and associated benefits. Recent literature and empirical applications highlight that combining NBS with RES can enhance ecosystem services and contribute to energy efficiency and pollution reduction. This research reviews the best practices and strategies for this kind of integration, focusing on interdisciplinary targets/criteria such as urban environmental enhancement, social equity, and economic feasibility, while also considering governance mechanisms and the commitment required to adopt and implement these solutions effectively. Key design interventions examined include permeable pavements, tree canopies, green roofs, and blue infrastructure for water management together with RES solutions either embedded within NBS or co-located into the same public spaces. Ensuring the social acceptability and the long-term viability of such initiatives requires addressing governance mechanisms, financial incentives, and participatory planning processes.
A structured methodology, including best-practice analysis, literature review, spatial data analysis, surveys, and workshops is used to develop an integrated NBS-RES framework. The study also identifies innovative design typologies that blend NBS with RES and ensures that the proposed solutions align with the characteristics of the local urban environment, as well as with local/community needs. Concerning the latter, stakeholders - including local authorities, researchers, urban planners, and community representatives - are engaged in a co-design process that allows for adaptive and context-specific planning.
A critical component of this research is understanding the institutional and regulatory landscape that influences the adoption of NBS, as well as the integration of NBS-RES solutions. Policy instruments and governance models are examined to identify enablers and barriers to implementation. By aligning scientific research with local policy and planning frameworks, this study aims to establish a replicable model to combine climate mitigation and adaptation solutions at the local level.
| Keywords | Nature-Based Solutions; Renewable Energy Sources; Urban Resilience; Climate Neutrality |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | No |
