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Session 5B - Economy for Equitable Cities

11:30 - 13:00 Friday, 17th June, 2022

Room Room 152 IULM

Scientific Day - Theme 5. Changing Economy for Equitable Cities

Presentation type Oral

Chair Thomas Andersson, Guido Ferilli

Applications of conventional economics, through an influence on government policy and acceptance of unmitigated market forces, often contribute to the challenges of polarisation and fragmentation within cities, which are linked to inequality as well as social and political instability. This session invites contributions presenting new methods, strategies, and driving forces on terms that support NBS and healthy corridors while diminishing inequality in urban development.

The present proposal aims to review the role of economics and how it is applied in shaping the driving forces, decisions, processes, and outcomes relating to the fragmentation and polarisation of cities. The session welcomes new methods strategies to operationalise and assess more favourable and inclusive outcomes, with particular attention to the issues and opportunities pertaining to Nature-based Solutions and Healthy Corridors.

Furthermore, the session could contribute with new insights related to governance and the means of achieving capacity building to overcome some of the most serious and lingering issues confronting the urban environment. The session also aims to broadening the theoretical and conceptual dimensions of the Healthy Corridor. 


5B.1 Ecosystem condition indicators to support Nature-based Solutions implementation in cities

Francesco Sica1, Chiara Cortinovis2, Davide Geneletti1
1Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, Via Mesiano, 77 38123 Trento, Italy. 2Department of Geography, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Rudower Chaussee 16, D-12489 Berlin, Germany

Extended Abstract

The ongoing pandemic crisis has exacerbated the existing socio-economic and environmental inequalities within cities (Grima et al., 2020), including in terms of green space accessibility and ecosystem service provision. Among others, the presence of high-quality green spaces and elements and the enhancement of Ecosystem Services (ES) supplied by Nature-based Solutions (NbS) have become a more pressing need. The provision of ES highly depends on the condition of ecosystems. Natural ones are usually regarded as the main providers of ES, but urban areas can also be seen as ecosystems with their own structure and functions which provide a certain range of ES (Haase et al., 2014). The knowledge of urban ecosystem conditions can therefore support different types of policy questions within processes for sustainable urban planning in an equitable perspective.

Several general frameworks for the assessment and accounting of ecosystems and their services are currently being developed internationally, including the Essential Biodiversity Variables, and the UN’s SEEA EEA Ecosystem Condition Typology (ECT). The latter aims at regular and standardized stocktaking on the extent of ecosystems, their condition and the services they provide to society (Maes et al., 2013; Czúcz et al., 2021). However, so far there have been only few attempts to apply it to urban contexts, and its usability to support decision-making processes is still uncertain.

Our research aims to advance the application of ecosystem accounting in urban contexts by proposing a set of condition indicators for urban ecosystems' classes. We reviewed scientific and grey literature describing indicators of ecosystem conditions for both urban ecosystems and other ecosystem types that can be found in urban areas (e.g. agriculture and forest patches, rivers). The indicators were categorized according to the DPSIR framework. For each indicator, we noted the ES to which it was linked in the publication. Proposed ECT are grouped into eight classes: 1. Demographic and socio-economic factors; 2. Habitat alteration and fragmentation; 3. Ecological-environmental condition; 4. Structural and functional attributes; 5. Land cover; 6. Land use and management; 7. Conservation and protection status; 8. Biodiversity. 

The classified indicators for urban ecosystems can support local governments operating in urban contexts. Their use could guide the geographical arrangement of NbS with the potential to inform decision-makers determining policy priorities or proposing green intervention, and their design, that respond to specific types of inequality. We conclude by discussing suitable scales of analysis and possible uses of condition indicators in the framework of urban ecosystem accounting exercises.

References

  1. Grima N., Corcoran W., Hill-James C., Langton B., Sommer H., & Fisher B. (2020). The importance of urban natural areas and urban ecosystem services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Plos one, 15(12): e0243344. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0243344.
  2. Haase D., Frantzeskaki N., Elmqvist T. (2014). Ecosystem services in urban landscapes: practical applications and governance implications. Ambio, 43 (4): 407-12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-014-0503-1.
  3. Maes J., Teller A., Erhard M., Liquete C., Braat L., Berry P., ... & Bidoglio G. (2013). Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services. An analytical framework for ecosystem assessments under action, 5: 1-58. doi: 10.2788/341839. 
  4. Czúcz B., Keith H., Jackson B., Nicholson E., & Maes J. (2021). A common typology for ecosystem characteristics and ecosystem condition variables. One Ecosystem, 6: e58218. doi: 10.3897/oneeco.6.e58218.  

Presentation

In-person

5B.2 Comparative Analysis: Business models and Impacts of Nature-based Enterprises

Thomas Andersson ORCID iD, Ingrid Andersson ORCID iD, Emma Bjorner ORCID iD, Laura Prisca Ohler ORCID iD
IKED, Sweden

Extended Abstract

Governments increasingly recognize the viability of Nature-based solutions (NBS) to deal with societal and environmental challenges. Noteworthy hurdles, including immature market development, have been well-documented to hinder realising their potential for value-creation, however. While innovation and the rise of Nature-based enterprises (NBE) have been observed to improving the situation (Kooijman et al, 2021), the realization of sustainable business models and impacts on socio-economically weak populations continue to raise issues (Peredo and Chrisman, 2006; Anyonge-Bashir and Udoto, 2012). The present study aims to investigate the marketability and financial viability of different kinds of NBEs, while taking account of community-based organization as well as social and participatory NBS. The methods involve field research in three city areas, in Sofia, Nantes and Porto, featuring in-depth interviews with Nature-based enterprises, innovation hubs and municipalities. Based on a comparative analysis, we draw conclusions on variation in the marketability and viability of NBEs along with their impacts on sustainability. Finally, policy implications and recommendations are presented, including lessons for dissemination and replicability. 

References

Anyonge-Bashir, M. & Udoto, P. (2012). Beyond philanthropy: community Nature-based Enterprises as a Basis for Wildlife Conservation. The George Wright Forum, 29(1), 67-73.

Kooijman, E. D., McQuaid, S., Rhodes, M. L., Collier, M. J., & Pilla, F. (2021). Innovating with nature: From nature-based solutions to nature-based enterprises. Sustainability, 13(3), 1263.

Peredo, A. M., & Chrisman, J. J. (2006). Toward a theory of community-based enterprise. Academy of management Review, 31(2), 309-28.

Presentation

In-person

5B.3 Trees as Infrastructure (TreesAI) A portfolio financing platform to enable transparent public private partnership for the long term stewardship of urban nature-based solutions.

Carlotta Conte M. Arch in Architecture, Chloe Treger MSc in Mathematics and Philosophy, Konstantina Koulouri M. Arch in Architecture, Roni Bulent Ozel PhD Fulbright Scholar at School of Computer Science at Carnegie-Mellon University