STRATEGIES TO OVERCOME IMPLEMENTATION BARRIERS OF URBAN NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION: A GLOBAL OVERVIEW FROM A CROSS COMPARATIVE STUDY

Abstract

Urban areas worldwide are increasingly facing intensifying climate change impacts like flooding, heatwaves, and droughts. In response, employing nature-based solutions (NBS) in cities has emerged as a promising adaptation strategy for counteracting these intensifying climate impacts. Specifically, NBS leverages sustainable, green infrastructure approaches inspired by natural processes to enhance climate resilience and adaptation of urban settlements. However, multiple systemic barriers have hindered the broader adoption and implementation of NBS interventions. This thesis sheds light on strategies for dismantling such barriers through an in-depth case study analysis. The study analytically examines 103 successfully implemented NBS initiatives across diverse global cities to elucidate real-world strategies for overcoming implementation barriers. The cases unveiled interconnected barriers spanning four key dimensions – policy, knowledge, collaboration, and financial. Outdated regulations and institutional resistance frequently obstruct NBS uptake, coupled with gaps in technical capacity and multi-stakeholder coordination. To overcome the uncovered systemic barriers, the case studies revealed that it is important to employ implementation strategies including participatory policymaking; strengthening collaborative abilities by facilitating diverse partnerships; fostering robust knowledge networks for technical assistance; generating evidence of effectiveness via pilot demonstrations; and enhanced financing access through creative models. Specific enablers like communication campaigns, knowledge sharing platforms, regulatory reforms and technical training also prove impactful for mainstreaming NBS. As urban settlements worldwide face mounting threats from climate change, adopting holistic implementation perspectives becomes imperative. This research also provides guidance for decision-makers on implementing NBS to systematically dismantle existing sustainability adoption barriers. The developed framework lays implementable roadmaps for mainstreaming nature-based approaches to enhance urban adaptation globally. Enabling broad NBS integration through combinations of social, institutional, knowledge and economic interventions constitutes a pathway for building climate-resilient, sustainable cities globally. With intensifying climate impacts, these findings can facilitate urgent green transformations worldwide.