Abstract
The global climate change agenda proceeds at an incremental pace while the Earth is approaching critical tipping points in its development trajectory. Climate action at this pinnacle juncture needs to be greatly accelerated and rooted in the fundamentals of the problem—human beings’ disconnection from nature. This paper underscores the valuable role nature and nature-based solutions can play in addressing climate change at the city scale and its implications for broader sustainability. Urban ecosystems (nature in cities) are seen as an integral part of a proposed local climate action rubric wherein policy measures and integrated planning guide lowcarbon/impact development to create more resilient and sustainable urban environments. The use of green infrastructure is highlighted as a cost-effective means to contribute to mitigation and adaptation needs as well as to promote human wellbeing. The paper takes an exploratory view of the influence of ecosystem services, particularly cultural services, and its economics in relation to the individual and society to understand how biophilia can be nurtured to promote environmental stewardship and climate action.
Highlights
“We should bear in mind that profound changes in attitudes, behaviours and policies will be required to create a world in which human beings live in harmony with nature.”
The time is ripe for local authorities and city planners to amplify nature and its equitable accessibility in urban environments, while optimizing ecosystem services, to strengthen the ecological-social interconnections paramount in fostering climate action
As climate change becomes increasingly viewed in the context of public health, the quality of life in cities will be an important indicator of their prosperity
Summary
A New Local Climate Action Rubric “We should bear in mind that profound changes in attitudes, behaviours and policies will be required to create a world in which human beings live in harmony with nature.” Sam Kahamba Kutesa, UN General Assembly President—Dialogue on Harmony with Nature (UN News 2015 [1]). Climate solutions warrant paradigm in how therubric, developed wherein the drivers of a sustainable and resilient city include: (1) policy incentives and integrated countries pursue economic growth and value quality of life, with developing and emerging economies systems planning; (2) rich biodiversity and natural ecosystems; and (3) low carbon urban avoiding the mistakes of the former. The economics of nature are outlined to make the business case for for the purpose of this paper is defined as any action that reduces or supports emission reductions of greater use of nature-based solutions in our cities and built environments to positively exploit the carbon and/or greenhouse gases (GHGs) as well as enhances the adaptive capacity of built ecosystem services for climate mitigation and adaptation as well as resource efficiency.
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