Bharat DAHIYA, School of Global Studies, Thammasat University, Thailand
Jonathan PARKINSON, IMC Worldwide Ltd, United Kingdom
Nature-based solutions have emerged as promising transformational drivers for a better future for cities worldwide. Nature-based solutions are increasingly being included in the urban strategies of various cities and city-regions. The Glasgow Climate Pact, based on COP26 held in November 2021, underlined the critical significance of ‘restoring nature and ecosystems in delivering benefits for climate adaptation’ (United Nations Climate Change, 2021). Nature-based solutions for cities are supported by multilateral development banks, and the United Nations’ agencies in their programmes and projects promoting sustainable and resilient urban development in developing countries. Some of the key nature-based solutions for cities include: ‘Creating a Fabric of Interconnected Green Corridors and Spaces’; ‘Greening of Core Urban Areas and Residential, Industrial, and Business Zones’; ‘Greening of Cities on Rivers and Coasts’; ‘Creating Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems’; and ‘Greening and Rehabilitating Urban Catchments and Uplands’ (Arjan et al, 2021). This paper is based on a review of projects aimed at supporting nature-based solutions for cities around the world. To illustrate the prominent contours of nature-based solutions for cities, the paper will present the main characteristics of the selected projects and discuss their key features to highlight how nature-based solutions act as ‘transformational drivers’ for a better future for cities. It will provide research and policy related recommendations on promoting nature-based solutions for cities towards achieving sustainable urban and resilience development in cities across the planet in the face of impending climate change.
Mots clés : Nature-based solutions|Transformational drivers|Cities|Sustainable and resilient urban development|Climate change
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