InteGREEN (Integrated urban services from greening strategies to improve city resilience) (2024-2029)

Cities are under enormous pressure to quickly transform into carbon neutral, resilient environments that are adapted to future climates while offering attractive and affordable living conditions to an increasing number of inhabitants. The introduction and expansion of vegetation in urban settings is often considered the most effective means to improve quality of life in cities as it is widely associated with better human health and well-being, heat stress reduction, carbon sequestration, flood risk reduction and greater biodiversity. However, also unwanted effects may occur, e.g. with respect to air pollution, water demand, or social injustice. The specific design, placement, and management of greening solutions in the context of the complex urban environment determine if the intervention improves the resilience of the area or if adverse effects may dominate. Where benefits from greening solutions may dominate in the short-term but are not sustainable in the long-term (e.g. climate effects, water scarcity), intertemporal tradeoffs raise the concern of maladaptation to biodiversity and climate change issues. To ensure vegetation remains healthy, even in the rather extreme urban settings, and integrated urban services from greening solutions benefit the urban population, planners and those responsible for the city infrastructures already consider many factors. However, some critical effects, both in terms of physical processes and socio-economic functions, are not yet accounted for.

A more holistic and scientifically sound assessment of the integrated urban services provided by greening solutions is urgently required to adequately respond to diverse needs of inhabitants, complex urban environments, as well as changing climate and environmental conditions. The inteGREEN project gathers experts from a wide range of disciplines including urban policies, economy, geography, land-use planning, ecology, plant ecophysiology, soil biogeochemistry, atmospheric chemistry, meteorology, hydrology, water management, and climatology, to respond to this acute need.

Through co-construction with decision makers and practitioners from different disciplines, inteGREEN will identify critical aspects for which dedicated research can provide an added value and impact on real-life implementations. This dynamic exchange will guide the design of experimental studies and scenario development. Scientific advances in terms of data, tools and process-understanding will be translated into meaningful indicators and tailored decision support tools. To facilitate the rapid urban transitions with sound scientific evidence and help make cities more resilient to future challenges, a sustainable exchange framework for scientists and stakeholders will be developed: the inteGREEN Urban Greening Knowledge Hub.

Involved members:

• Charlotte da Cunha
• Katia Radja
• PhD student (upcoming)