The implementation of nature-based solutions (NbS) in cities, such as green walls, constructed wetlands and green corridors, is gaining traction globally1,2. Generally understood as ‘actions to protect, conserve, restore, sustainably use and manage’ natural or modified ecosystems to address societal challenges (e.g. climate adaptation, environmental degradation, food production, water security), NbS are expected to support biodiversity, increase resilience and operate adaptively3. For this reason, urban NbS are part of a broader context in which society has been turning to nature in an effort to make cities more liveable, resilient and healthy environments for both humans and other species4. Growing concerns with the intertwined crises (i.e. interconnections between biodiversity loss, climate change, other planetary boundaries and their effects to human health and wellbeing) are contributing to a renewed interest in experimenting with NbS in cities in different contexts5,6,7. Our current knowledge on urban NbS for climate adaptation relies on learning from demonstration projects as means of exploring how to adopt NbS in cities8,9. While this creates a strong evidence base from real-life projects, the ways in which these demonstration projects instigate change in planning practice and urban governance remain underexplored10,11,12. Despite a decade of experimentation and investments in the development of...

npj Urban Sustainability - Pathways for mainstreaming nature-based solutions for climate adaptation: grounding, capitalising, embedding and anticipating across 12 Mediterranean cities

Upholding international environmental commitments calls for monitoring and evaluation practices that bridge international ambitions and local action in cities. This Perspective suggests how to reframe...