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Projeto de investigação
CO-producing Nature-based solutions and restored Ecosystems: transdisciplinary neXus for Urban Sustainability
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Exploring desired urban futures: the transformative potential of a nature-based approach
Publication . Bina, Olivia; Baptista, M.D.; Pereira, Mafalda; Inch, A.; Falanga, Roberto; Alegría, V.; Caquimbo-Salazar, S.; Duarte, D.H.S.; Mercado, G.; Valenta, A.T.; Vásquez, A.; Verellen, T.
Amidst multiple crises and calls for transformative change, the demand to reassess human-nature relationships has increased. Rethinking the future of cities is vital in this process, yet positive urban visions prioritizing nature beyond human-centred perspectives are lacking. To address this gap, we propose a “nature-based desired futures” approach for envisaging and building collective discussion around transformative change. We explore four concepts underpinning (i) why such alternative urban futures are needed (human-nature disconnect and changing urban imaginaries) and (ii) how they might be approached (transformative change and leverage, and the ‘education of desire’). This provides the basis for a participatory approach that adapts the Three Horizon method to explore desired urban futures for nature in 2050. Six workshops involving 111 participants linked to ‘Conexus’, a project on nature-based solutions in European and Latin American
cities, explored emerging desired futures, evolving ideas of nature, human-nature relationships, and agency. The approach offers space for reflection creative exploration, and weaving together of new, hopeful, caring, emancipatory stories. Its effectiveness hinges on the mutually reinforcing power of deep leverage, and of structural, systemic, and enabling approaches, to give purpose and direction to the exploration of desired futures.
Supporting Nature-Based Solutions via Nature-Based Thinking across European and Latin American cities
Publication . Mercado, Geovana; Wild, Tom; Hernandez-Garcia, Jaime; Baptista, Mariana D.; van Lierop, Martina; Bina, Olivia; Inch, Andy; Ode Sang, Åsa; Buijs, Arjen; Dobbs, Cynnamon; Vásquez, Alexis; van der Jagt, Alexander; Salbitano, Fabio; Falanga, Roberto; Amaya-Espinel, Juan David; Pereira, Mafalda; Randrup, Thomas B.
Nature-Based Solutions concepts and practices
are being used worldwide as part of attempts to address
societal challenges but have also been criticised for not
dealing with deeper transformations needed to face urgent
issues including biodiversity loss, climate change and
inclusion. In this paper, we explore how an inclusive,
integrated and long-sighted approach, emphasising a
more radical integration of nature within cities, might
support the transformations needed to endure major
contemporary challenges. Addressing important emerging
critiques of Nature-Based Solutions, we consider the
potential of a more incisive form of Nature-Based Thinking
(NBT) in cities, based on more holistic perspectives. The
paper draws on a reflective and iterative research process that
engaged both the research and practice communities through
a symposium and a series of futures workshops that together
explored the potential of NBT to develop future nature-cities
relations in Europe and Latin America. The results of the
reflective process suggest that notions of nature with
people—not for people— new organisational structures,
and the intention and capacity to apply long-term perspectives,
are needed when planning for NBS interventions aimed at
sustainable urban development. This includes developing a
cultural-structural change based on new and inclusive
understandings of human–nature relations, and novel
governance paradigms that allow cross-sectoral coordination
and engagement of local stakeholders beyond formal
organisational structures.
Green(er) Cities and Their Citizens: Insights from the Participatory Budget of Lisbon
Publication . Falanga, Roberto; Verheij, Jessica; Bina, Olivia
There is rising scholarly and political interest in participatory budgets and their potential to advance urban sustainability. This article aims to contribute to this field of study through the specific lens of the city of Lisbon’s experience as an internationally acknowledged leader in participatory budgeting. To this end, the article critically examines the lessons and potential contribution of the Lisbon Participatory Budget through a multimethod approach. Emerging trends and variations of citizen proposals, projects, votes, and public funding are analysed in tandem with emerging key topics that show links and trade-offs between locally embedded participation and the international discourse on urban sustainability. Our analysis reveals three interconnected findings: first, the achievements of the Lisbon Participatory Budget show the potential to counteract the dominant engineered approach to urban sustainability; second, trends and variations of the achievements depend on both citizens’ voice and the significant influence of the city council through policymaking; and, third, the shift towards a thematic Green Participatory Budget in 2020 was not driven by consolidated social and political awareness on the achievements, suggesting that more could be achieved through the 2021 urban sustainability oriented Participatory Budget. We conclude recommending that this kind of analysis should be systematically carried out and disseminated within city council departments, promoting much needed internal awareness of PBs’ potential as drivers of urban sustainability. We also identify further research needed into the sustainability potential of green PBs
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Entidade financiadora
European Commission
Programa de financiamento
H2020
Número da atribuição
867564