Knowledge Agora



Similar Articles

Title Are traditional urban greening actions compliant with the European Greening Plans guidance?
ID_Doc 63349
Authors Costadone, L; Vierikko, K
Title Are traditional urban greening actions compliant with the European Greening Plans guidance?
Year 2023
Published
Abstract The Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, embedded in the European Green Deal, is a key policy agenda promoted by the European Commission to protect nature and biodiversity. This strategy sets ambitious goals to protect and restore ecosystems, halt biodiversity decline, and improve monitoring and governance efforts. Notably, munic-ipalities with at least 20,000 inhabitants are now invited to develop comprehensive Urban Greening Plans (UGP). To support this process, the European Commission has recently released a draft guidance document that provides step-by-step assistance in creating long-term UGPs. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 European cities to evaluate what kind of UGPs have already been developed and assess compliance with the European guidelines. The findings reveal that many cities have already developed greening or sustainability plans, although certain crucial steps are still lacking to ensure the long-term success of UGPs. These include securing political commitment, establishing a working structure, fostering cross-departmental collaboration, and addressing limitations in human and financial resources. Typically, greening strategies are implemented within broader sustainability initiatives such as climate adaptation or biodiversity strategy. Among the interviewed cities, four cities are in the process of developing a comprehensive greening plan that integrates various policy goals and strategies according to the European guidelines. Setting policy targets and monitoring the current state of nature and biodiversity emerged as the most challenging step due resource limitations. Finding suitable areas for greening in rapidly developing and densely populated cities was cited as a primary barrier to implementing UGPs. To accelerate the implementation of comprehensive UGPs, there is a need for more coherent financial and legislative support at both the EU and national levels.
PDF https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2023.128131

Similar Articles

ID Score Article
63885 de Luca, C; Naumann, S; Davis, M; Tondelli, S Nature-Based Solutions and Sustainable Urban Planning in the European Environmental Policy Framework: Analysis of the State of the Art and Recommendations for Future Development(2021)Sustainability, 13, 9
64423 Hermoso, V; Carvalho, SB; Giakoumi, S; Goldsborough, D; Katsanevakis, S; Leontiou, S; Markantonatou, V; Rumes, B; Vogiatzakis, IN; Yates, KL The EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030: Opportunities and challenges on the path towards biodiversity recovery(2022)
16619 Ricci, L Integrated Approaches to Ecosystem Services: Linking Culture, Circular Economy and Environment through the Re-Use of Open Spaces and Buildings in Europe(2022)Land, 11, 8
9114 Pultrone, G The Ecological Challenge as an Opportunity and Input for Innovative Strategies of Integrated Planning(2019)
62854 Paleari, S The Impact of the European Green Deal on EU Environmental Policy(2022)Journal Of Environment & Development, 31, 2
64240 Applegate, JD; Tilt, JH Using content and comparative analysis to contextualize the criteria for urban resiliency planning from international and US cities perspectives(2023)
63399 Calliari, E; Castellari, S; Davis, M; Linnerooth-Bayer, J; Martin, J; Mysiak, J; Pastor, T; Ramieri, E; Scolobig, A; Sterk, M; Veerkamp, C; Wendling, L; Zandersen, M Building climate resilience through nature-based solutions in Europe: A review of enabling knowledge, finance and governance frameworks(2022)
64600 Santopietro, L; Palermo, V; Melica, G; Scorza, F The Engagement of Small European Municipalities in Achieving the Climate Neutrality(2024)
63426 de Sadeleer, N A New Deal For Nature In The Eu. From Aspiration To Reality(2023)
63715 Kumar, V; Vuilliomenet, A Urban Nature: Does Green Infrastructure Relate to the Cultural and Creative Vitality of European Cities?(2021)Sustainability, 13, 14
Scroll