Speaker
Description
The Zero Net Land Take (ZNLT) policy has emerged as a cornerstone of sustainable urban planning, aiming to balance urban development with land conservation by 2050. Rooted in the EU Soil Strategy for 2030 and the Biodiversity Strategy, these policies emphasize land protection and renaturalization but allow for variability in member state implementation. This study provides a comprehensive review of ZNLT-related policies across Europe, examining their adoption and adaptation at the European, national, and regional levels, with a focus on the Emilia-Romagna region in Italy as a case study.
The research involved an in-depth analysis of legislative documents, policy frameworks, and implementation guidelines. At the European level, overarching directives outline the primary goals and strategies, while national policies translate these into localized action plans. The study revealed diverse interpretations and implementations of ZNLT across member states, reflecting differing governance structures and spatial planning traditions. In Italy, the decentralization of spatial planning contributes to heterogeneous applications of ZNLT principles, with Emilia-Romagna standing out for its pioneering efforts. The region’s Regional Law No. 24/2017 exemplifies a structured approach by capping new urbanization at 3% of the existing urbanized territory by 2050 and integrating ZNLT into spatial planning through measurable targets, incentives for land reuse, and robust monitoring mechanisms.
The analysis identified critical challenges to effective ZNLT implementation, including misalignments between European objectives and national or regional practices, fragmented policy action, and the absence of standardized metrics for monitoring progress. Insufficient economic and regulatory incentives at the subnational level further impede the prioritization of ZNLT goals. Stakeholder engagement remains inconsistent, reducing inclusivity and undermining land-use decision-making processes.
This study underscores the need for a coherent multi-level governance structure to achieve ZNLT objectives across Europe. By addressing policy gaps and fostering synergies, ZNLT can serve as a transformative framework for reducing land consumption, enhancing urban resilience, and protecting ecological systems. Emilia-Romagna’s model offers valuable insights into aligning regional and local actions with national and European strategies, providing a replicable framework for other regions.
| Keywords | Zero Net Land Take; policy mapping; multi-level governance; land consumption |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
