Project description
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
- medical and health scienceshealth sciencespublic health
- social sciencessociologygovernance
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesenvironmental sciencessustainability sciences
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringecosystem-based managementclimate change adaptation
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystems
Programme(s)
- H2020-EU.3.5. - SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Climate action, Environment, Resource Efficiency and Raw Materials Main Programme
- H2020-EU.3.5.4. - Enabling the transition towards a green economy and society through eco-innovation
- H2020-EU.3.5.1. - Fighting and adapting to climate change
- H2020-EU.3.5.2. - Protection of the environment, sustainable management of natural resources, water, biodiversity and ecosystems
Funding Scheme
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
8000 Aarhus C
Denmark
See on map
Participants (22)
EX4 4QJ Exeter
See on map
750 07 Uppsala
See on map
Participation ended
SN2 1FL Swindon
See on map
04318 Leipzig
See on map
8010 Graz
See on map
75005 Paris
See on map
8100 Arhus C
See on map
Participation ended
75740 Paris
See on map
10000 Grad Zagreb
See on map
361021 XIAMEN
See on map
100084 BEIJING
See on map
79098 Freiburg Im Breisgau
See on map
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
10410 Velika Gorica
See on map
Participation ended
04159 Leipzig
See on map
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
See on map
See on map
Participation ended
2200 Copenhagen
See on map
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
Participation ended
200336 SHANGHAI
See on map
200433 SHANGHAI
See on map
OX10 8BB Oxford
See on map
75740 Paris
See on map
Hangzhou
See on map