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Fostering nature-based solutions for smart, green and healthy urban transitions in Europe and China

Project description

DEENESFRITPL

A new urban model to enhance and conserve natural capital

More than 70 % of Europe’s population and nearly 60 % of China’s population live in cities. Societal challenges deriving from this development need mitigation and nature-based solutions (NBS) are promising approaches. They will assist cities to adapt to climate change, to reduce the risk of extreme weather events, and to counteract biodiversity loss and other detrimental effects. The EU-funded REGREEN project will investigate NBS to restore, improve, enhance and conserve natural capital and biodiversity. It will help build climate resilience in cities, improve liveability, and contribute to building inclusive communities, in line with urban priorities. Together with urban planners, citizens and businesses in urban living labs, REGREEN aims to speed up the transition toward equitable, green and healthy cities.

Objective

Urban systems globally experience significant and interlinked societal challenges including pressures on public health and well-being and growing inequalities and social disruption. At the same time, urban systems are particularly vulnerable to impacts of climate change and suffer from degraded or lack of natural ecosystems to help alleviate these impacts. A promising approach to deal with these challenges is to work with nature’s capacity and qualities in a sustainability perspective. Working with nature in urban settings has advantages over other approaches: multi-functionality, multi-benefits and cost-effectiveness. Nature Based Solutions (NBS) are interventions that seek to restore, improve, enhance or conserve natural capital and biodiversity in terms of habitats or ecosystems. Subsequently, these ecosystems provide enhanced multiple ecosystem services that contribute to social and economic benefits, reducing the urban societal challenges. They can help build climate resilience in cities, improve liveability, and in collaboration with other urban priorities contribute to building inclusive communities, closing social equality gaps, while promoting innovative businesses and jobs. The aim of Regreen is to generate evidence for how Nature-based solutions (NBS) underpinned by improved urban governance, and public and private participation can systematically integrate ecosystem services and biodiversity and advocate their benefits and values in urban planning to meet societal challenges including climate change resilience, public health and well-being, and social inclusion. Co-creation with urban planners, citizens and business in urban living labs and educational programs for children ensure long-term sustainability of solutions, and support to business development assist further realization. This to accelerate the crucial transition toward smart, green and healthy cities in Europe and China.

Fields of science

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Call for proposal

H2020-SC5-2018-2019-2020

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Sub call

H2020-SC5-2018-2

Funding Scheme

RIA - Research and Innovation action

Coordinator

AARHUS UNIVERSITET
Net EU contribution
€ 1 007 968,60
Address
Nordre ringgade 1
8000 Aarhus c
Denmark

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Region
Danmark Midtjylland Østjylland
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Other funding
€ 0,00

Participants (22)

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Last update: 5 April 2023

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Permalink: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/821016

European Union, 2023