Nature-based solutions to reduce climate change impacts in urban areas

Nature-based solutions to reduce climate change impacts in urban areas

Sustainable Development Goals

Climate change is a major cause for exogenous pressures affecting urban areas in multiple ways. In particular, the frequency and intensity of heat waves and flash floods are increasing, and are a cause of important environmental, social and economic losses, including life losses. Nature-based solutions (NBS) can provide sustainable and cost-effective approaches that can reduce more effectively the impacts of climate change related events, compared to engineering solutions. The option of NBS is less expensive and more beneficial for the environment and life quality in urban areas. NBS such as urban parks and gardens act as carbon sink, reduce the thermal influence of concrete material (e.g. microclimate regulation, air cooling) and decrease the damages induced by flash floods, facilitating water infiltration. These measures can reduce the impacts of urban areas on climate change, and the vulnerability of the population to heat waves and the destruction capacity of heavy rainfalls.

Action Goal

To evaluate the potential of NBS to mitigate the impacts of extreme events in Vilnius and Kaunas. The action is divided in three goals: 1) Identification of NBS potential and demand, 2) development of a stakeholder capacity building model to support understanding, management and enhancement of NBS and 3) transfer the knowledge obtained to students.